[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 85 (Monday, May 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24137-24140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10003]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Technology and Media Services for Individuals With 
Disabilities--Technology and Standards-Based Reform; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.327B.

    Dates:
    Applications Available: May 4, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 7, 2004.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 6, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs); and local 
educational agencies (LEAs); institutions of higher education (IHEs); 
other public agencies; nonprofit private organizations; outlying areas; 
freely associated States; Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and 
for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,200,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000-$300,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $300,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $300,000 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: 4.

    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: (1) Improve 
results for children with disabilities by promoting the development, 
demonstration, and use of technology; (2) support educational media 
activities designed to be of educational value to children with 
disabilities; and (3) provide support for some captioning, video 
description, and cultural activities.
    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 687 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.
    This priority is:
    Technology and Media Services for Individuals With Disabilities--
Technology and Standards-Based Reform.
    Background: Current Federal and State educational initiatives 
(including the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)) apply 
principles of standards-based reform as a means for improving student 
achievement. Standards-based reform is premised on a ``theory of 
action'' in which standards, assessments, and accountability lead to 
improved curriculum and clear expectations for students and schools, 
which in turn lead to professional development and improved teaching, 
which ultimately lead to higher levels of student learning (Elmore and 
Rothman, Eds., 1999, available at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/9609.html). This theory suggests that, certain areas should be 
addressed in order to maximize benefits for students with disabilities. 
Among these are the following--(1) Assessments must be accessible and 
valid for the widest possible range of students with disabilities (with 
valid and reliable alternate assessments available for students with 
disabilities who cannot participate in general assessments even with 
accommodations); (2) information on assessment results must be 
available to all appropriate parties in a timely fashion and must be 
applicable to instruction as well as to accountability; (3) students 
should receive coherent standards-based instruction, and progress 
toward meeting standards must be monitored; (4) principles of universal 
design should be applied to standards, assessments, curriculum, and 
instruction; and (5) connections must be maintained between the 
components of the system, including standards, assessments, reporting, 
instructional planning, professional development, and instruction. 
Technology can play a vital role in improving the academic achievement 
of students with disabilities.
    Priority: This priority supports research projects to determine how 
technology can best be used to maximize the benefits of standards-based 
reform for children with disabilities. Technologies may include, but 
are not limited to, technology-based assessments, computerized 
curriculum-based measurement aligned with State academic content 
standards, technology-based instruction aligned with State content 
standards, and technology-based systems for managing and analyzing 
information. The research must address one or more of the areas 
identified above in order to improve the achievement of students with 
disabilities as discussed in the Background section of this priority.
    Projects must:
    (a) Conduct (1) rigorous research on existing products and 
approaches to determine their effectiveness, feasibility, and 
sustainability, or (2) research-based development and evaluation of 
approaches for using technology to maximize the benefits of standards-
based reform for students with disabilities.
    (b) Conduct the majority of research and development activities in 
actual school settings.
    (c) Apply sound research methods.
    (d) Budget for a two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, 
DC during each year of the project.
    (e) Budget for one additional trip annually to Washington, DC to 
attend

[[Page 24138]]

the Technology Project Directors' meeting.
    (f) If the project maintains a Web site, it must include relevant 
information and documents in an accessible form.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (5 U.S.C.), 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. 1487.
    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: $1,200,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $200,000--$300,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $300,000 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $300,000 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: 4.


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


    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs; LEAs; IHEs; other public agencies; 
nonprofit private organizations; outlying areas; freely associated 
States; Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and for-profit 
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).

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: 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 84.327B.
    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 to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to 
the equivalent of no more than 50 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, references, 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, the letters of support, or 
the appendix. 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: May 4, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 7, 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: August 6, 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. The Special Education--
Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities 
Program--Technology and Standards Based Reform competition--CFDA Number 
84.327B is one of the competitions included in this project. If you are 
an applicant under the Special Education--

[[Page 24139]]

Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities 
Program--Technology and Standards Based Reform 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 (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--Technology and Media Services for 
Individuals with Disabilities Program--Technology and Standards Based 
Reform 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 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--Technology and Media Services for Individuals with 
Disabilities Program--Technology and Standards Based Reform competition 
at: http://www.grants.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 section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section 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), the Department is currently developing measures 
that will yield information on various aspects of the quality of the 
Technology and Media Services to Improve Services and Results for 
Children with Disabilities program (e.g., the extent to which projects 
are of high quality, are relevant to the needs of children with 
disabilities, and contribute to improving 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: Dave Malouf, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4624, Switzer Building, 
Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 205-8111.
    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 by contacting the following office: 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.

[[Page 24140]]

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 (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: April 27, 2004.
Andrew J. Pepin,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-10003 Filed 4-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P