[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40882-40886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15408]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Research and Innovation To Improve Services and Results 
for Children With Disabilities--Center on Standards and Assessment 
Development; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2004

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.324U

    Dates: Applications Available: July 7, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 9, 2004.
    Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs); local 
educational agencies (LEAs); institutions of higher education (IHEs); 
other public agencies; nonprofit private organizations; outlying areas; 
freely associated States; and Indian tribes or tribal organizations.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,000,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $1,000,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. 
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in 
the Federal Register.
    Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to produce, and 
advance the use of, knowledge to improve the results of education and 
early intervention for infants, toddlers, and children with 
disabilities.
    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 672 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 
as amended (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:
    Research and Innovation to Improve Services and Results for 
Children with

[[Page 40883]]

Disabilities--Center on Standards and Assessment Development.
    Background: Alternate assessments based on alternate achievement 
standards present a number of challenges for States. For example, 
questions have arisen concerning the best methods for aligning 
alternate achievement standards with grade-level academic content 
standards, maximizing access to the general curriculum, developing and 
administering technically sound alternate assessments, and determining 
cut scores on assessments that reflect expectations that are high but 
attainable. Similarly, alternate assessments based on grade-level 
achievement standards present challenges, such as determining the 
degree to which such alternate assessments measure grade-level 
standards with equivalent rigor to the general assessments.
    Failure to meet these challenges will have compliance implications 
both for the approval of State standards and assessments under the No 
Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) (which must be approved by the 
2005-2006 school year), and compliance with provisions of the IDEA 
regarding alternate assessments and access to the general curriculum. 
However, educational reform is not a static process, and States may 
continue to examine and improve their assessments and accountability 
systems beyond meeting the requirements of Federal laws. Thus, there 
will be a continued need for federally supported development and 
technical assistance to support States in identifying and implementing 
evidence-based best practices to ensure that alternate achievement 
standards and alternate assessments are technically sound and 
universally designed to be accessible for the widest possible range of 
students.
    Priority: This priority supports one cooperative agreement for a 
center (Center) to support States in developing, implementing, and 
improving alternate achievement standards aligned to grade-level 
content standards, alternate assessments based on alternate achievement 
standards, and alternate assessments based on grade-level achievement 
standards.
    The Center's activities must have two phases, with phase one in 
years 1 and 2 of the project and phase two in years 3 through 5. Some 
activities occur in both phases. Required activities and their phases 
are as follows:
    Activity 1--Phase 1: Convene and support expert work groups to 
summarize extant data and other information, identify and discuss 
critical issues, identify promising and best practices, and produce 
reports and recommendations on specific topics. During the first 
project year, the Center must convene an expert work group to produce 
guidelines and procedures aimed at ensuring the technical quality of 
alternate assessments. Additional required topics to be addressed by 
expert work groups during the first two project years include: 
Methodologies and principles for aligning alternate achievement 
standards with grade-level academic content standards; best practices 
for developing and administering alternate assessments based on 
alternate achievement standards; and best practices for developing and 
administering alternate assessments based on grade-level achievement 
standards.
    Activity 2--Phases 1 and 2: Convene on an annual basis an advisory 
committee representing key perspectives and stakeholder groups, 
including professionals working in special education, assessment, and 
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended; and parents and individuals with disabilities. The primary 
purposes of this advisory committee are to review and advise on the 
plans for activities 3 through 5 and to provide liaison with 
significant stakeholder groups.
    Activity 3--Phases 1 and 2: Coordinate with other technical 
assistance and dissemination resources to provide technical assistance 
and information to States in improving and implementing (1) alternate 
achievement standards aligned to grade-level achievement standards, (2) 
alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards and on 
grade-level achievement standards, and (3) approaches to using 
alternate assessments in improving educational outcomes and access to 
the general curriculum.
    Activity 4--Phase 2: Conduct research on the characteristics of 
alternate achievement standards and alternate assessments implemented 
in States, and their impact on student learning and access to the 
general curriculum.
    Activity 5--Phase 2: Conduct development and demonstration projects 
with a small number of States on improving and implementing (a) 
alternate achievement standards aligned to grade-level achievement 
standards, (b) alternate assessments based on alternate achievement 
standards and on grade-level achievement standards, and (c) approaches 
to using alternate assessments in improving educational outcomes and 
access to the general curriculum. To the extent possible, States should 
be selected to be broadly representative of size, socio-cultural 
factors, educational system characteristics, etc. Applicants are 
encouraged to provide evidence of potential State cooperation in these 
activities.
    Additional Activities--Phases 1 and 2: (a) Maintain regular 
communication with staff of the U.S. Department of Education to obtain 
input and approval of project plans.
    (b) Budget for a two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, 
DC during each year of the project.
    (c) If the project has a Web site, include relevant information and 
documents in an accessible form on the project's Web site.

Fourth and Fifth Years of Project

    In deciding whether to continue this project for the fourth and 
fifth years, the Secretary will consider the requirements of 34 CFR 
75.253(a), and in addition--
    (a) The recommendation of a review team consisting of experts 
selected by the Secretary which review will be conducted during the 
last half of the project's second year in Washington, DC. Projects must 
budget for the travel associated with this one-day intensive review;
    (b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of 
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the 
Center; and
    (c) The degree to which the project's design and methodology 
demonstrates the potential for advancing significant new knowledge.

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 the IDEA 
makes the public comment requirements inapplicable to the priorities in 
this notice.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1461, 1472.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 80, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement.
    Available Funds: $1,000,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $1,000,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. 
The Assistant

[[Page 40884]]

Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services may change 
the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal Register.
    Number of Awards: 1.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs; LEAs; IHEs; other public agencies; 
nonprofit private 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 the 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 the 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: 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 84.324U.
    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 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 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, 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, 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: July 7, 2004.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: August 9, 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.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
    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 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--
Research and Innovation to Improve Services and Results for Children 
with Disabilities Program--Center on Standards and Assessment 
Development competition--CFDA Number 84.324U is one of the competitions 
included in this project. If you are an applicant under the Special 
Education--Research and Innovation to Improve Services and Results for 
Children with Disabilities Program--Center on Standards and Assessment 
Development 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

[[Page 40885]]

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) 
245-6272.
     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--Research and Innovation to Improve Services 
and Results for Children with Disabilities Program--Center on Standards 
and Assessment Development 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--Research and Innovation to Improve Services and Results for 
Children with Disabilities Program--Center on Standards and Assessment 
Development 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 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 indicators 
and measures that will yield information on various aspects of the 
quality of the Research and Innovation to Improve Services and Results 
for Children with Disabilities program. Included in these indicators 
and measures will be those that assess the quality and relevance of 
newly funded research projects. Two indicators will address the quality 
of new projects. First, an external panel of eminent senior scientists 
will review the quality of a randomly selected sample of newly funded 
research applications, and the percentage of new projects that are 
deemed to be of high quality will be determined. Second, because much 
of the Department's work focuses on questions of effectiveness, newly 
funded applications will be evaluated to identify those that address 
causal questions and then to determine what percentage of those 
projects use randomized field trials to answer the causal questions. To 
evaluate the relevance of newly funded research projects, a panel of 
experienced education practitioners and administrators will review 
descriptions of a randomly selected sample of newly funded projects and 
rate the degree to which the projects are relevant to practice.
    Other indicators and measures are still under development in areas 
such as the quality of project products and long-term impact. 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).
    We will notify grantees of the performance measures once they are 
developed.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Dave Malouf, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4078, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7427.
    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., Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550. 
Telephone: (202) 205-8207.

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

[[Page 40886]]

of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: 
www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: June 30, 2004.
Troy R. Justesen,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and 
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 04-15408 Filed 7-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U