[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 107 (Monday, June 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32401-32405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5110]



  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 107 / Monday, June 5, 2006 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for 
Children With Disabilities--Preparation of Leadership Personnel; Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.325D.

DATES: Applications Available: June 5, 2006.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 5, 2006.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 5, 2006.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,800,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $171,969-$200,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $196,200.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $200,000 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.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 24.


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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purposes of this program are to (1) help 
address State-identified needs for highly qualified personnel--in 
special education, related services, early intervention, and regular 
education--to work with infants or toddlers with disabilities, or 
children with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have 
the skills and knowledge--derived from practices that have been 
determined through research and experience to be successful--that are 
needed to serve those children.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 
662(d) and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
(IDEA)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 this priority is an absolute 
priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that 
meet this priority.
    This priority is: Preparation of Leadership Personnel.
    This priority supports and is limited to projects that train 
personnel at the preservice doctoral or post-doctoral level in early 
intervention, special education or related services and at the advanced 
graduate level (masters and specialists) in special education 
administration/supervision. In order to be eligible under this 
priority, programs must provide training and support for scholars to 
complete their training, within the performance period of the grant.
    Therefore, only the following types of programs of study will meet 
the requirements of the priority:
    1. A major in special education, related services or early 
intervention at the doctoral or post-doctoral level; and
    2. Training at the advanced graduate level (masters and specialists 
programs) in special education administration/supervision.

    Note: Training that leads to a Doctor of Audiology (D Aud) 
degree is not included as part of this priority.

    Projects funded under this absolute priority must--
    (a) Demonstrate in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of Project Services'' how--
    (1) The program prepares personnel to address the specialized needs 
of children with disabilities from diverse cultural and language 
backgrounds by--
    (i) Identifying the competencies needed by leadership personnel to 
understand and work with culturally and linguistically diverse 
populations (the competencies identified should reflect the current 
knowledge base); and
    (ii) Infusing those competencies into early intervention, special 
education, and related services training programs.
    (2) All relevant coursework for the proposed program reflects 
current research and pedagogy on--
    (i) Participation and achievement in the general education 
curriculum and improved outcomes for children with disabilities; and
    (ii) The provision of coordinated services in natural environments 
to improve outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and 
their families.
    (3) The program offers integrated training and practice 
opportunities that will enhance the collaborative skills of all 
personnel who share responsibility for providing effective services for 
children with disabilities.
    (4) For programs that train personnel in early intervention, 
special education or related services, the program ensures that 
scholars are knowledgeable about: (i) The provisions of the No Child 
Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) that relate to students with 
disabilities; (ii) the IDEA and NCLB requirement that teachers be 
highly qualified; and (iii) the need to foster collaboration between 
regular and special education teachers.
    (5) The proposed training program is aligned with State learning 
standards for children, if appropriate;
    (b) Submit annual data on each scholar who receives grant support. 
Projects funded under this priority must submit this scholar data 
electronically within 60 days after the end of each grant budget year. 
Applicants are encouraged to visit the Personnel Prep Data (PPD) Web 
site at http://www.osepppd.org for further information. This data 
collection is in addition to and does not supplant the annual grant 
performance report required of each grantee for continuation funding 
(see 34 CFR 75.590);
    (c) Budget for a three-day Project Director's meeting in 
Washington, DC, during each year of the project;
    (d) If the project maintains a Web site, include relevant 
information and documents in a format that meets a government or 
industry-recognized standard for accessibility;
    (e) Provide a detailed description of the program, including the 
sequence of the courses offered in the program that describe the 
comprehensive curriculum designed to meet program goals and obtain 
mastery of the following required professional domains--
    (1) Research methodology;
    (2) Personnel preparation;
    (3) Policy/advocacy or professional practice.
    (f) Include in the application narrative under ``Quality of Project 
Evaluation,'' a clear, effective plan for evaluating the extent to 
which graduates of the training program have the knowledge and skills 
necessary to provide research-based instruction and services that 
result in improved outcomes for children with disabilities;
    (g) Communicate student evaluation results to the Office of Special 
Education Programs (OSEP) in required annual performance reports for 
continuation funding and the project final performance report;
    (h) Certify that all scholars will be recruited into the program 
with the intention of graduating from the program during the program 
performance period;
    (i) Certify that the institution will not require scholars 
recruited into the program to work as a condition of receiving a 
scholarship, e.g., as graduate assistants, unless the work is required 
to complete their training program;

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    (j) If the program is addressing national or regional needs, 
demonstrate the existence of the needs through appropriate research 
data; and
    (k) Designate at least 65 percent of the total requested budget for 
scholarship support or provide justification for any designation less 
than 65 percent. Examples of sufficient justification for proposing 
less than 65 percent of the budget for scholarship support might 
include:
     A project servicing rural areas that provides long 
distance training, and that may require Web Masters, adjunct 
professors, or mentors to operate effectively.
     A project that is expanding or adding a new emphasis area 
to the program, and as a result of this expansion, may need additional 
faculty or other resources such as expert consultants, additional 
training supplies, or equipment that would enhance the program.
    Please note, projects that are funded to develop, expand, or add a 
new area of emphasis to special education or related services programs 
must provide information on how these new areas will be sustained once 
Federal funding ends.
    Statutory Requirements: To be considered for an award, an applicant 
must also satisfy the following requirements contained in section 
662(e) through (h) of the IDEA--
    (a) Demonstrate that the activities described in the application 
will address needs identified by the State or States the applicant 
proposes to serve and that the State or States intend to accept 
successful completion of the proposed personnel preparation program as 
meeting State personnel standards or other requirements in State law or 
regulation for serving children with disabilities or serving infants 
and toddlers with disabilities (see sections 662(e)(2)(A) and 662(f)(2) 
of IDEA). Letters from the State or States that the project proposes to 
serve could be one method for addressing this requirement;
    (b) Demonstrate that the applicant and one or more State 
educational agencies--or, if appropriate, State appointed lead agencies 
responsible for providing early intervention services--or local 
educational agencies will cooperate in carrying out and monitoring the 
proposed project (see section 662(e)(2)(B) of IDEA);
    (c) Meet State and professionally recognized standards for the 
preparation of leadership personnel in special education, related 
services, or early intervention fields (see section 662(f)(2) of IDEA); 
and
    (d) Provide an assurance that the applicant will ensure that 
individuals who receive financial assistance under the proposed project 
agree to subsequently work in the appropriate field, for a period of 2 
years for every year for which the scholarship was received, or repay 
all or part of the amount of the scholarship, in accordance with 
section 662(h)(1) of IDEA and 34 CFR part 304. Applicants must describe 
how they will inform scholarship recipients of this service obligation 
requirement.
    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 and 
requirements. Section 681(d) of the IDEA makes the public comment 
requirements of the APA inapplicable to the priority in this notice.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1462 and 1481.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, 99; and 34 CFR part 304.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $4,800,000.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $171,969-$200,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $196,200.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $200,000 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.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 24.

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

    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program 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 84.325D.
    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 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, or the letters of support. 
However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III.

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    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: June 5, 
2006. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 5, 2006.
    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: September 5, 2006.
    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 2006. Preparation of Leadership Personnel--
CFDA Number 84.325D is one of the competitions included in this 
project. We request your participation in Grants.gov.
    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must 
use the Grants.gov Apply site at http://www.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.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Preparation 
of Leadership Personnel--CFDA Number 84.325D 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.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are time and date 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and 
must be date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application 
if it is date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 
p.m., Washington, DC time, 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 date/time stamped by the 
Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date.
     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 
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov 
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures 
pertaining to Grants.gov at http://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
     To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must 
complete all of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see 
http://www.Grants.gov/GetStarted). These steps include (1) registering 
your organization, (2) registering yourself as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR), and (3) getting authorized as an AOR 
by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the 
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/assets/GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf). You also must provide on your 
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please 
note that the registration process may take five or more business days 
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to 
allow you to successfully submit an application via Grants.gov.
     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. If you choose to 
submit your application electronically, you must attach any narrative 
sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich 
text) or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type 
other than the three file types specified above or submit a password 
protected file, we will not review that material.
     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 acknowledgment 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.

Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability

    If you are prevented from electronically submitting your 
application on the application deadline date because of technical 
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension 
until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically, or by hand 
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing 
instructions as described elsewhere in this notice. If you submit an 
application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the deadline date, 
please contact the person listed elsewhere in this notice

[[Page 32404]]

under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, and provide an explanation of 
the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number (if available). We will accept your 
application if we can confirm that a technical problem occurred with 
the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your ability to 
submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date. The Department will contact you after a 
determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.


    Note: Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the 
unavailability of or technical problems with the Grants.gov system. 
We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register 
to submit your application to Grants.gov before the deadline date 
and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to 
the Grants.gov system.

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 84.325D), 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 
84.325D), 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 
84.325D), 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 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 expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 
34 CFR 75.118. In addition, to satisfy the requirements of the priority 
in this notice, you must submit annual data on each scholar who 
receives grant support through this program.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established a set of 
performance measures that are designed to yield information on the 
effectiveness of the Personnel Preparation program. These measures 
include: (1) The extent to which projects incorporate scientifically- 
or evidence-based practices; (2) the extent to which scholars exit 
training programs prior to completion due to poor academic performance; 
(3) the extent to which degree/certification recipients are employed 
upon program completion in the area(s) for which they were trained; and 
(4) the extent to which degree/certification recipients are employed in 
the area(s) for which they were trained and are fully qualified under 
IDEA.
    If funded, applicants will be required to collect and report data 
on grant-supported scholars through the PPD Web site at http://www.oespppd.org (see paragraph (b) under the Absolute Priority section 
of this notice).
    Beyond the performance measures specifically described in this 
notice, the Department has also developed long-term measures that are 
designed to yield information on various aspects of program quality 
(e.g., the extent to which scholars trained under IDEA-funded training 
programs are knowledgeable and skilled in scientifically- or evidence-
based practices for children with disabilities; and the extent to which 
program graduates maintain employment for three or more years in the 
area(s) for which they were trained). Grantees may be asked to 
participate in assessing and providing information on such long-term 
aspects of program quality.

[[Page 32405]]

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Gilmore Ph.D., U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4083, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 245-7354.
    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: May 30, 2006.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 06-5110 Filed 6-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P