[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 50 (Monday, March 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12143-12147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5823]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services 
and Results for Children With Disabilities--Projects for Children and 
Young Adults Who Are Deaf-Blind; Notice Inviting Applications for New 
Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.326C.


DATES: For dates regarding this priority, see the chart in the Award 
Information section of this notice.
    Applications Available: See chart.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: See chart.
    Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs), local 
educational agencies (LEAs), institutions of higher education (IHEs), 
other public agencies, nonprofit private organizations, for-profit 
organizations, outlying areas, freely associated States, and Indian 
tribes or tribal organizations.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,789,000.
    For funding information regarding individual States, see chart in 
the Award Information section of this notice.

[[Page 12144]]

    Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
    Maximum Awards: See chart.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
    Project Period: See chart.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    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.
    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 685 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

    IDEA includes provisions designed to ensure that each child with a 
disability is provided a high-quality individual program of services to 
meet his or her developmental and educational needs. For children who 
are deaf and blind to receive such services, intensive technical 
assistance must be afforded SEAs and LEAs, parents, and professionals 
regarding appropriate educational placements, accommodations, 
environmental adaptations, support services, and other matters. In 
addition, given the severity of deaf-blindness and the low-incidence 
nature of this population, many early intervention programs or local 
school districts lack personnel with the training or experience to 
serve children who are deaf-blind.
    Text of Priority: This priority supports projects to build the 
capacity of SEAs and LEAs, parents, and professionals to improve 
outcomes for children and young adults who are deaf-blind and their 
families, by providing technical assistance, information, and training 
on early intervention, special education, related services, and 
transitional services. Projects must:
    (a) Identify and support specific activities to, at a minimum--
    (1) Enhance State capacity to improve services and results for 
children who are deaf-blind;
    (2) Facilitate the achievement of systemic-change goals by 
improving education opportunities for children who are deaf-blind;
    (3) Focus on implementation of research-based best practices;
    (4) Ensure that service providers have the necessary skills to 
address the unique needs of children who are deaf-blind; and
    (5) Address the needs of families of children who are deaf-blind.
    (b) Maintain needs assessment information to develop Statewide 
priorities for technical assistance, information, and training across 
all age ranges by --
    (1) Collecting basic demographic information on children who are 
deaf-blind;
    (2) Assessing the critical needs of these children; and
    (3) Assessing current needs of the State in providing services to 
children who are deaf-blind and their families.
    (c) Develop and implement procedures to evaluate the impact of 
program activities on services and outcomes for children and young 
adults who are deaf-blind and their families by--
    (1) Evaluating the effectiveness of strategies in achieving program 
goals and objectives;
    (2) Including measures of change in outcomes for children; and
    (3) Consulting with the project's advisory committee regarding the 
development of the evaluation procedures.
    (d) Coordinate and collaborate with SEAs, and other relevant 
agencies and organizations, including other projects serving children 
who are deaf-blind under IDEA. This includes specific collaboration 
activities with the National Clearinghouse on Deaf-Blindness (DB-LINK) 
and the Technical Assistance Consortium with Children and Young Adults 
with Deaf-Blindness (NTAC).
    (e) Disseminate effective practices and relevant information to 
families, service providers, LEAs, and agencies.
    (f) Prior to developing any new product, whether paper or 
electronic, submit for approval a proposal describing the content and 
purpose of the product to the document review board of the Office of 
Special Education Programs' (OSEP) Dissemination Center.
    (g) Provide OSEP-specified technical assistance to States. This 
effort may include: (1) Participation in collaborative Web-based 
technical assistance activities, or (2) coordination of and 
participation in State-to-State communities of practice.
    (h) Establish and maintain an advisory committee to assist in 
promoting project activities. Each committee must include at least one 
adult with deaf-blindness and one student with deaf-blindness, a parent 
of a child with deaf-blindness, a representative of each SEA and each 
State lead agency under Part C of IDEA in the State (or States) served 
by the project, and a limited number of professionals with training and 
experience in serving children with deaf-blindness.
    Funds awarded under this priority may not be used for direct early 
intervention, special education, or related services provided under 
Parts B and C of IDEA.
    During year two of the project period, each grantee must conduct a 
comprehensive self-evaluation of the project. The self-evaluation must 
include a review of the degree to which the project is meeting the 
proposed objectives and goals and an evaluation of the outcome data. In 
addition, the Department intends to conduct a limited number of on-site 
evaluations based on a stratified randomized sample of sites. Costs 
associated with this on-site evaluation are estimated to be $6,500 and 
should be included in the project's second year budget.
    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 priority in this notice.

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

    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

    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 institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary Grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,789,000.
    For funding information regarding individual States, see chart in 
the Award Information section of this notice.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
    Maximum Awards: See chart.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.

[[Page 12145]]

    Project Period: See chart.

                                                       Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Application Notice for Fiscal Year 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                    Estimated
                                                                 Deadline for transmittal         Deadline for         Estimated     average     Maximum    Estimated
         CFDA No. and name            Applications available         of applications        intergovernmental review   available     size of   award (per   number of        Project period
                                                                                                                         funds       awards       year)      awards
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.326C Projects for Children and   March 16, 2004............  April 19, 2004...........  June 11, 2004............   $1,789,000    $138,000  ..........          13  Up to 48 mos.
 Young Adults who are Deaf-Blind.
    Arkansas......................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........    $118,534  ..........  .........................
    Iowa..........................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........      97,054  ..........  .........................
    Idaho.........................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........      85,303  ..........  .........................
    Kentucky......................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........     165,145  ..........  .........................
    Michigan......................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........     256,289  ..........  .........................
    North Carolina................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........     313,649  ..........  .........................
    Wisconsin.....................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........     173,484  ..........  .........................
    Rhode Island..................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........      79,368  ..........  .........................
    South Dakota..................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........     101,746  ..........  .........................
    Tennessee.....................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........     238,451  ..........  .........................
    Wyoming.......................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........      65,000  ..........  .........................
    District of Columbia..........  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........      65,000  ..........  .........................
    Virgin Islands................  ..........................  .........................  .........................  ...........  ..........      30,000  ..........  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The Secretary may make awards under the priority described in the Priority section of this notice to support single or multi-State projects. A State may be served by only one supported
  project. In determining the maximum funding levels for each State the Secretary considers, among other things, the following factors: (1) Total number of children from birth through age 21
  in the State; (2) Number of people in poverty in the State; (3) Previous funding levels; and (4) Maximum and minimum funding amounts. We will reject an application for a State project that
  proposes a budget exceeding the funding level for a single budget period of 12 months. In the event an applicant proposes a multi-State project, the budget may not exceed the sum for
  individual participating States. 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.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs; LEAs; IHEs; other public agencies; 
nonprofit private organizations; for-profit organizations; outlying 
areas; freely associated States; and Indian tribes or tribal 
organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: General Requirements--(a) The projects funded under this 
notice 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: 1-301-470-1244. 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 number 84.326C.
    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 Contracts 
Services Team listed 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 in evaluating your application. You must limit Part III 
to the equivalent of no more than 70 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 
resumes, 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: See chart.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.
    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: See chart.
    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

[[Page 12146]]

Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for 
this competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference additional regulations 
outlining funding restrictions under the Applicable Regulations 
heading, in section I 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.

    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--
Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results 
for Children with Disabilities program--CFDA Number 84.326C is one of 
the competitions included in the pilot project. If you are an applicant 
under the Special Education--Technical Assistance and Dissemination to 
Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program--
CFDA Number 84.326C 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 after 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 1-
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-Technical Assistance and Dissemination to 
Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program--
CFDA Number 84.326C 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 by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
    1. You are a registered user of e-Application, and you 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 persons 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-Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services 
and Results for Children with Disabilities program--CFDA Number 84.326C 
competition at: http://e-grants.ed.gov

V. Application Review Information

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are in 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR. The specific selection criteria to be 
used for this competition are in the application package.
    2. Review and Selection Process: In making awards under this 
priority, the Secretary shall consider the proposed availability of 
services for children with deaf-blindness in all areas of the country.

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 Notice 
(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 under the Applicable 
Regulations heading, in section I of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award under 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

[[Page 12147]]

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), the Department is currently developing measures 
that will yield information on various aspects of the quality of the 
Technical Assistance to Improve Services and Results for Children with 
Disabilities program (e.g., the extent to which projects use high 
quality methods and materials, provide useful products and services, 
and contribute to improving results for children with disabilities 
(States report improved ability to provide technical assistance as a 
result of projects and demonstrate improved results for children with 
disabilities)). Data on these measures will be collected from the 
projects funded under this notice.
    Grantees will also be required to report information on their 
projects' performance in annual reports to the Department (EDGAR, 34 
CFR 75.590).

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: http://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 1-202-512-1530.

    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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: March 10, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-5823 Filed 3-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P