[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17432-17436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6747]


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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) 2005

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

    Dates: Applications Available: April 7, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 20, 2005.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 19, 2005.
    Eligible Applicants: Local parent organizations, as defined in 
Section III, Eligibility Information, of this notice.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000.
    Maximum Award: The Secretary does not intend to fund an application 
that proposes a budget exceeding $100,000 for a single budget period of 
12 months.
    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.
    Priorities: This competition contains an absolute priority and a 
competitive preference priority. In accordance with 34 CFR 
75.105(b)(2)(iv) and (v), these priorities are from allowable 
activities specified in the statute, or otherwise authorized in the 
statute (see sections 672 and 681(d) of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2005 this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    This priority is:

Community Parent Resource Centers

    Background: This priority supports community parent training and 
information centers in targeted communities that will provide 
underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income 
parents, parents of limited English proficient children and parents 
with disabilities in that community, with the training and information 
they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their 
children with disabilities to--
    (a) Meet developmental and functional goals, and challenging 
academic achievement goals that have been established for all children; 
and
    (b) Be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives, to the 
maximum extent possible.
    In addition, a purpose of this priority is to ensure that children 
with disabilities and their parents receive training and information on 
their rights, responsibilities, and protections under IDEA in order to 
develop the skills necessary to cooperatively and effectively 
participate in planning and decisionmaking relating to early 
intervention, educational, and transitional services.

Text of Priority

    Each community parent resource center assisted under this priority 
shall--
    (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 center, particularly 
underserved parents and parents of children who may be inappropriately 
identified as having disabilities;


    Note: For purposes of this priority, ``community to be served'' 
refers to a community whose members experience significant isolation 
from available sources of information and support as a result of 
cultural, economic, linguistic, or other circumstances deemed 
appropriate by the Secretary.


    (b) Carry out the activities required of parent training and 
information centers under section 671(b) of IDEA, which are listed as 
follows:
    (1) Serve the parents of infants, toddlers, and children, from ages 
birth through 26, with the full range of disabilities described in 
section 602(3) of IDEA;
    (2) Ensure that the training and information provided meets the 
needs of low-income parents and parents of limited English proficient 
children;
    (3) Assist parents to--
    (A) Better understand the nature of their children's disabilities 
and their educational, developmental, and transitional needs;

[[Page 17433]]

    (B) Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with personnel 
responsible for providing special education, early intervention 
services, transition services, and related services;
    (C) Participate in decisionmaking processes and the development of 
individualized education programs under Part B of IDEA and 
individualized family service plans under Part C of IDEA;
    (D) Obtain appropriate information about the range, type, and 
quality of--
    (i) Options, programs, services, technologies, practices and 
interventions based on scientifically based research, to the extent 
practicable, and
    (ii) Resources available to assist children with disabilities and 
their families in school and at home;
    (E) Understand the provisions of IDEA for the education of, and the 
provision of early intervention services to, children with 
disabilities;
    (F) Participate in activities at the school level that benefit 
their children; and
    (G) Participate in school reform activities;
    (4) In States where the State elects to contract with the parent 
training and information center, contract with State educational 
agencies to provide, consistent with subparagraphs (B) and (D) of 
section 615(e)(2) of IDEA, individuals who meet with parents to explain 
the mediation process to the parents;
    (5) Assist parents in resolving disputes in the most expeditious 
and effective way possible, including encouraging the use, and 
explaining the benefits, of alternative methods of dispute resolution, 
such as the mediation process described in section 615(e) of IDEA;
    (6) Assist parents and students with disabilities to understand 
their rights and responsibilities under IDEA, including those under 
section 615(m) of IDEA upon the student's reaching the age of majority 
(as appropriate under State law);
    (7) Assist parents to understand the availability of, and how to 
effectively use, procedural safeguards under IDEA, including the 
resolution session described in section 615(e) of IDEA;
    (8) Assist parents in understanding, preparing for, and 
participating in, the process described in section 615(f)(1)(B) of 
IDEA;
    (c) Establish cooperative partnerships with the parent training and 
information centers funded in the State under section 671 of IDEA;
    (d) Respond to requests from the National Technical Assistance 
Center (NTAC) and Regional Parent Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) 
and use the technical assistance services of the NTAC and PTACs in 
order to serve the families of infants, toddlers, and children with 
disabilities as efficiently as possible. PTACs are charged with 
assisting parent centers with administrative and programmatic issues;
    (e) Be designed to meet the specific needs of families who 
experience significant isolation from available sources of information 
and support;
    (f) Annually report to the Department on--
    (1) The number and demographics 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; and
    (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;
    (g) In collaboration with OSEP and the NTAC, participate in an 
annual collection of program data for the community parent resource 
centers and the parent training and information centers;
    (h) 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 OSEP's 
Dissemination Center for approval;
    (i) Budget for a two-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, 
DC during each year of the project. In addition, a project's budget 
must include funds to attend a Regional Project Directors meeting to be 
held each year of the project;
    (j) If the community parent resource center maintains a Web site, 
include relevant information and documents in a form that meets a 
government or industry-recognized standard for accessibility.
    Competitive Preference Priority: Within this absolute priority, we 
give competitive preference to applications that address the following 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we award additional points to 
an application that meets this priority.
    This priority is:
    We will award five points to an application that proposes to 
provide services to one or more Empowerment Zones, Enterprise 
Communities or Renewal Communities that are designated within the areas 
served by the center. (A list of areas that have been selected as 
Empowerment Zones, Enterprise Communities, or Renewal Communities can 
be found at http://hud.esri.com/egis/cpd/rcezec/ezec_open.htm). 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, Enterprise 
Communities, or Renewal 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, Enterprise Communities, or Renewal Communities and 
become an integral component of the Empowerment Zone, Enterprise 
Community, or Renewal Community activities.
    Therefore, for purposes of this competitive preference priority, 
applicants can be awarded up to a total of five points in addition to 
those awarded under the selection criteria for this competition (see 
Selection Criteria in section V of this notice). That is, an applicant 
meeting the competitive preference priority could earn a maximum total 
of 105 points.
    Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking: Under the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department generally offers interested 
parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities. However, 
section 681(d) of IDEA makes the public comment requirements under the 
APA inapplicable to the priorities in this notice.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1472.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 
82, 84, 85, 97, 98, and 99.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $1,000,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $100,000.
    Maximum Award: The Secretary does not intend to fund an application 
that proposes a budget exceeding $100,000 for a single budget period of 
12 months.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 10.


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


    Project Period: Up to 36 months.

[[Page 17434]]

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Local parent organizations. Under section 
672(a)(2) of IDEA, a ``local parent organization'' is a parent 
organization (as that term is defined in section 671(a)(2) of IDEA) 
that must meet the following criteria:
    (a) Has a board of directors, the majority of whom are parents of 
children with disabilities ages birth through 26 from the community to 
be served; and
    (b) Has--
    (1) As its mission serving parents of children with disabilities 
from that community who (i) are ages birth through 26; and (ii) have 
the full ranges of disabilities as defined in section 602(3) of IDEA.
    Section 671(a)(2) 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 majority of whom are parents of children with disabilities 
ages birth through 26;
    (2) That includes--
    (i) Individuals working in the fields of special education, related 
services, and early intervention; and
    (ii) Individuals with disabilities; and
    (iii) The parent and professional members of which are broadly 
representative of the population to be served including low-income 
parents and parents of limited English proficient children; and
    (b) Has as its mission serving families of children with 
disabilities who--
    (1) Are ages birth through 26; and
    (2) Have the full range of disabilities described in section 602(3) 
of IDEA.
    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 competition 
must involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals 
with disabilities ages birth through 26 in planning, implementing, and 
evaluating the projects (see section 682(a)(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 84.328C.
    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 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 60 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: April 7, 2005.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 20, 2005.
    Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or by 
mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 6. Other Submission 
Requirements in this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: July 19, 2005.
    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. Applications for grants under 
this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by 
mail or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    We have been accepting applications electronically through the 
Department's e-Application system since FY 2000. In order to expand on 
those efforts and comply with the President's Management Agenda, we are 
continuing to participate as a partner in the new government-wide 
Grants.gov Apply site in FY 2005. The Community Parent Resource 
Centers--CFDA Number 84.328C is one of the competitions included in 
this project.
    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must 
use the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). Through this site, you will 
be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it 
offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-
mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. We request your 
participation in Grants.gov.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Community 
Parent Resource Centers--CFDA Number 84.328C competition at: http://www.grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application 
package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA 
number's alpha suffix in your search.
    Please note the following:
     Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.

[[Page 17435]]

     Applications received by Grants.gov are time and date 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted with a 
date/time received by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 p.m., 
Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We will not 
consider your application if it was received by the Grants.gov system 
later than 4:30 p.m. on the application deadline date. When we retrieve 
your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are 
rejecting your application because it was submitted after 4:30 p.m. on 
the application deadline date.
     If you experience technical difficulties on the 
application deadline date and are unable to meet the 4:30 p.m., 
Washington, DC time, deadline, print out your application and follow 
the instructions in this notice for the submission of paper 
applications by mail or hand delivery.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the application process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that 
your application is submitted timely to the Grants.gov system.
     To use Grants.gov, you, as the applicant, must have a D-U-
N-S Number and register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). You 
should allow a minimum of five business days to complete the CCR 
registration.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you submit your application in paper format.
     You may submit all documents electronically, including all 
information typically included on the Application for Federal Education 
Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 
524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Any narrative 
sections of your application should be attached as files in a .DOC 
(document), .RTF (rich text) or .PDF (portable document) format.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgement from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov tracking number. The Department will retrieve your 
application from Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-
mail that will include a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying 
number unique to your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
    If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the 
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the 
original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable 
following address:
    By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 
84.328C), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or
    By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education, 
Application Control Center--Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 
84.328C), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
    Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing 
consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service,
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier, or
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark, or
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.


    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.

    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
    If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, 
you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of 
your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, 
to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 
84.328C), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, 
Sundays and Federal holidays.
    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail 
or hand deliver your application to the Department:
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the 
Department--in Item 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number--and suffix letter, 
if any--of the competition under which you are submitting your 
application.
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application 
receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant 
application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed 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

[[Page 17436]]

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 
Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities 
program. The measures will focus on: the extent to which projects 
provide high quality products and services, the relevance of project 
products and services to educational and early intervention policy and 
practice, and the use of products and services to improve educational 
and early intervention policy and practice.
    Once the measures are developed, we will notify grantees if they 
will be required to provide any information related to these measures.
    Grantees will also be required to report information on their 
projects' performance in annual reports to the Department (34 CFR 
75.590).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Gorove, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4056, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7357.
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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) 245-7363.

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: March 31, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-6747 Filed 4-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P