[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11400-11403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5390]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Training and Information for Parents of Children with 
Disabilities--Community Parent Resource Centers; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.328C.


DATES: Applications Available: March 11, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 16, 2004.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 15, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: Local parent organizations. The full 
definitions of Local Parent Organization and Parent Organization are 
provided in Section III, 1. Eligible Applicants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $100,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.

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


    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose Of Program: The purpose of this program is to ensure that 
parents of children with disabilities receive training and information 
to help improve results for their children.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 
661(e)(2) and 683 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
(IDEA)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2004 this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    Background: The purpose of this priority is to support community 
training and information centers in targeted communities that will help 
ensure that underserved parents of children with disabilities, 
including low-income parents, parents of children who are English 
language learners, and parents with disabilities in a community, have 
the training and information they need to enable them to participate 
effectively in helping their children with disabilities to --
    (a) Meet established developmental goals and challenging standards 
that have been established for all children; and
    (b) Prepare to lead productive adult lives, as independently as 
possible.
    Priority: Each community parent training and information center 
supported under this priority must--
    (a) Provide training and information that meets the training and 
information needs of parents of children with disabilities within the 
targeted community proposed to be served by the project, particularly 
underserved parents and parents of children who may be inappropriately 
identified;
    (b) Assist parents to understand the availability of, and how to 
effectively use, procedural safeguards under section 615 of IDEA, 
including encouraging the use, and explaining the benefits, of 
alternative methods of dispute resolution, such as the mediation 
process described in IDEA;
    (c) Serve the parents of infants, toddlers, and children with the 
full range of disabilities by assisting parents to--
    (1) Better understand the nature of their children's disabilities 
and their educational and developmental needs;
    (2) Communicate effectively with personnel responsible for 
providing special education, early intervention, and related services;
    (3) Participate in decisionmaking processes regarding participation 
in State and local assessments and the development of individualized 
education programs and individualized family service plans;
    (4) Obtain appropriate information about the range of options, 
programs, services, and resources available to assist children with 
disabilities and their families;
    (5) Familiarize themselves with the provision of special education 
and related services in the areas they serve to help ensure that 
children with disabilities are receiving appropriate services;
    (6) Understand the provisions of IDEA and the No Child Left Behind 
Act of 2001 (NCLB) for the education of, and the provision of early 
intervention services designed to improve results to, children with 
disabilities; and
    (7) Participate in school reform activities;
    (d) Contract with the State educational agencies (SEAs), if the 
State elects to contract with the community parent resource centers, 
for the purpose of meeting with parents who choose not to use the 
mediation process to encourage the use, and explain the benefits, of 
mediation, consistent with section 615(e)(2)(B) and (D) of IDEA;
    (e) In order to serve parents and families of children with the 
full range of disabilities, network with appropriate clearinghouses, 
including organizations conducting national dissemination activities 
under section 685(d) of IDEA, and with other national, State, and local 
organizations and agencies, such as protection and advocacy agencies;
    (f) Establish cooperative partnerships with the parent training and 
information centers funded under section 682 of IDEA;
    (g) Meet the unique needs of families who experience significant 
isolation from available sources of information and support;
    (h) Annually report to the Department on--
    (1) The number of parents to whom it provided information and 
training in the most recently concluded fiscal year, including 
demographic information about those parents served, and additional 
information regarding the unique needs and levels of service provided;
    (2) The effectiveness of strategies used to reach and serve 
parents, including underserved parents of children with disabilities, 
by providing evidence of how those parents were served effectively; and
    (i) In collaboration with the Office of Special Education Programs 
and the National Parent Technical Assistance Center, participate in the 
annual program evaluation for the community parent resource centers, 
which will include a review of the degree to which the center is 
meeting the objectives of the program.
    (j) Prior to developing any new product, whether paper or 
electronic, submit for approval a proposal describing the content and 
purpose of

[[Page 11401]]

the product to the document review board of the Office of Special 
Education Programs' (OSEP) Dissemination Center.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: Within this absolute priority, 
we give competitive preference to applications that address the 
following priorities.
    These priorities are from the program statute (see section 683 of 
IDEA).
    Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award additional points to an 
application depending on whether the application meets one or more of 
these priorities:
    These priorities are:
    (a) We will award 20 points to an application submitted by a local 
parent organization that has a board of directors, the majority of whom 
are parents of children with disabilities, from the community to be 
served (section 683(c)(1) of IDEA).
    (b) We will award 5 points to an application that proposes to 
provide services to one or more Empowerment Zones or Enterprise 
Communities that are designated within the areas served by projects. To 
meet this priority an applicant must indicate that it will--
    (1)(i) Design a program that includes special activities focused on 
the unique needs of one or more Empowerment Zones or Enterprise 
Communities; or
    (ii) Devote a substantial portion of program resources to providing 
services within, or meeting the needs of residents of these zones and 
communities.
    (2) As appropriate, contribute to the strategic plan of the 
Empowerment Zones or Enterprise Communities and become an integral 
component of the Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community activities.
    A list of areas that have been selected as Empowerment Zones or 
Enterprise Communities can be found at http://hud.esri.com/egis/cpd/rcezec/ezec_open.htm.
    Therefore, for purposes of these competitive preferences, 
applicants can be awarded up to a total of 25 points in addition to 
those awarded under the published selection criteria for this priority. 
That is, an applicant meeting all of these competitive preferences 
could earn a maximum total of 125 points.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested parties 
the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities. However, section 
661(e)(2) of IDEA makes the public comment requirements inapplicable to 
the priorities in this notice.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1483.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 97, 98, and 99.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject an application that proposes a budget 
exceeding $100,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice 
published in the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.

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

    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Local parent organizations. Section 683(c) 
defines a ``local parent organization'' as a parent organization that 
must meet either one of the following criteria:
    (a) Has a Board of Directors, the majority of whom are from the 
community to be served; or
    (b) Has--
    (1) as part of its mission, serving the interests of individuals 
with disabilities from that community; and
    (2) a special governing committee to administer the project. A 
majority of the governing committee members must be individuals from 
the community to be served.
    Section 682(g) of IDEA defines a ``parent organization'' as a 
private nonprofit organization (other than an institution of higher 
education) that:
    (a) Has a board of directors--
    (1) The parent and professional members of which are broadly 
representative of the population to be served;
    (2) The majority of whom are parents of children with disabilities; 
and
    (3) That includes individuals with disabilities and individuals 
working in the fields of special education, related services, and early 
intervention; or
    (b) Has a membership that represents the interests of individuals 
with disabilities and has established a special governing committee 
meeting the requirements for a board of directors in paragraph (a) and 
has a memorandum of understanding between this special governing 
committee and the board of directors of the organization that clearly 
outlines the relationship between the board and the committee and the 
decisionmaking responsibilities and authority of each.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: General Requirements--(a) The projects funded under this 
competition must make positive efforts to employ and advance in 
employment qualified individuals with disabilities (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) The projects funded under this priority must budget for a two-
day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC during each year of 
the project.
    (d) If a project maintains a Web site, it must include relevant 
information and documents in an accessible form.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll 
free): 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: 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 Number 84.328C.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the Grants and Contract 
Services Team listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section 
VII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate

[[Page 11402]]

your application. You must limit Part III to the equivalent of no more 
than 30 pages, using the following standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'' on one side only, 
with 1'' margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     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.
     Use a font that is either 12-point or larger or 
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 
r[eacute]sum[eacute]s, the bibliography, the references, or the letters 
of support. However, you must include all of the application narrative 
in Part III.
    We will reject your application if--
     You apply these standards and exceed the page 
limit; or
     You apply other standards and exceed the 
equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: March 11, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 16, 2004.
    The dates and times for the transmittal of applications by mail or 
by hand (including a courier service or commercial carrier) are in the 
application package for this competition. The application package also 
specifies the hours of operation of the e-Application Web site.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 15, 2004.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Instructions and requirements for 
the transmittal of applications by mail or by hand (including a courier 
service or commercial carrier) are in the application package for this 
competition.
    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: We are 
continuing to expand our pilot project for electronic submission of 
applications to include additional formula grant programs and 
additional discretionary grant competitions. Special Education--
Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities 
Program--Community Parent Resource Centers--CFDA Number 84.328C--is one 
of the competitions included in the pilot project. If you are an 
applicant under the Special Education--Training and Information for 
Parents of Children with Disabilities Program--Community Parent 
Resource Centers competition, 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). If you use e-Application you will 
be entering data online while completing your application. You may not 
e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. If you 
participate in this voluntary pilot project by submitting an 
application electronically, the data you enter online will be saved 
into a database. We request your participation in e-Application. We 
shall continue to evaluate its success and solicit suggestions for its 
improvement.
    If you participate in e-Application, please note the following:
     Your participation is voluntary.
     When you enter the e-Application system, you 
will find information about its hours of operation. We strongly 
recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to 
initiate an e-Application package.
     You will not receive 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.
     You may submit all documents electronically, 
including the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), 
Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all 
necessary assurances and certifications.
     Your e-Application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     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).
     Within three working days of submitting your 
electronic application, fax a signed copy of the Application for 
Federal Education Assistance (ED 424) to the Application Control Center 
after following these steps:
    1. Print ED 424 from e-Application.
    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.
     We may request that you give us original 
signatures on other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you elect to participate in the e-Application pilot 
for the Special Education--Training and Information for Parents of 
Children with Disabilities Program--Community Parent Resource Centers 
competition and you are prevented from submitting your application on 
the application deadline 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. We will grant this extension if--
    1. You are a registered user of e-Application, and have initiated 
an e-Application for this competition; and
    2. (a) The e-Application system is unavailable for 60 minutes or 
more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, 
on the application deadline date; or
    (b) The e-Application system is 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 
application deadline date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgement of any system unavailability, you may 
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
GRANTS help desk at 1-888-336-8930.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Special 
Education--Training and Information for Parents of Children with 
Disabilities Program--

[[Page 11403]]

Community Parent Resource Centers competition at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are 
listed in 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. The specific selection criteria to be 
used for this competition are in the application package.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations heading, in section I of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations heading, in section I of this 
notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The 
GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a 
final performance report, including financial information, as directed 
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an 
annual performance report that provides the most current performance 
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 
34 CFR 75.118.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA), measures have been developed for evaluating the 
overall effectiveness of this program. Requirements concerning the 
performance measures are in the application package for this 
competition.

VII. Agency Contact

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: 1-202-
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 listed 
in this section.

VIII. Other Information

    Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: www.ed.gov/news/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: www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: March 4, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-5390 Filed 3-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P