[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 155 (Friday, August 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46209-46215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13213]


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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--Combined Priority for Personnel 
Preparation; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2007

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

    Note: This notice includes one absolute priority with four focus 
areas, and funding information for each focus area of the 
competition.

    Dates: Applications Available: August 11, 2006.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: October 10, 2006.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: December 11, 2006.
    Eligible Applicants: Institutions of higher education (IHEs).
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$90,626,000 for the Personnel Development to Improve Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities program for FY 2007, of which we 
intend to use an estimated $11,692,000 for the Combined Priority for 
Personnel Preparation competition. The actual level of funding, if any, 
depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting 
applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if 
Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    For funding information regarding each of the specific focus areas 
of the absolute priority, see the chart in the Award Information 
section of this notice.

[[Page 46210]]

    Estimated Range of Awards: See chart.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
    Maximum Awards: See chart.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
    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 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.
    Priorities: In this competition, we are establishing one absolute 
priority (with four focus areas), a competitive preference priority 
within one of these four focus areas, one separate competitive 
preference priority, and two invitational priorities. In accordance 
with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), these priorities are from allowable 
activities specified in the statute (see sections 662 and 681(d) of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2007 this priority is, except as 
otherwise specified, an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we 
consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Combined Priority for Personnel Preparation Background: State 
agencies, university training programs, local schools, and other 
community-based entities confirm the importance and difficulty of 
improving training programs for personnel to serve children with 
disabilities or infants and toddlers with disabilities.
    The national demand for fully credentialed special education, 
related services and early intervention personnel to serve children 
with disabilities also exceeds available supply. Thus, Federal support 
is required to improve both the quality and supply of personnel who 
serve children with disabilities.
    Priority: The purpose of this priority is to increase the number 
and quality of personnel who are fully credentialed to serve children 
with disabilities--especially in areas of chronic shortage--by 
supporting projects that prepare special education, early intervention, 
and related services personnel at the associate, baccalaureate, 
master's and specialist levels. In order to be eligible under this 
priority, programs must provide training and support for students to 
complete, within the term of the project, a degree, State 
certification, professional license, or State endorsement in early 
intervention, special education or related services. Programs preparing 
students to be special education paraprofessionals, related services 
assistants or educational interpreters are also eligible under this 
priority.
    Combined Personnel Preparation Priority Requirements: To be 
considered for an award under this priority, applicants must--
    (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under 
``Quality of Project Services'', how--
    (1) Training requirements and required coursework for the proposed 
training program incorporate research-based practices that improve 
outcomes for children with disabilities (including relevant research 
citations);
    (2) The program is designed to offer integrated training and 
practice opportunities that will enhance the skills of appropriate 
personnel who share responsibility for providing effective services to 
children with disabilities;
    (3) The program prepares personnel to address the specialized needs 
of children with disabilities from diverse cultural and language 
backgrounds, including limited English proficient children with 
disabilities, by--
    (i) Identifying the skills that personnel need to work effectively 
with culturally and linguistically diverse populations; and
    (ii) Preparing personnel to use those skills through early 
intervention, special education, and related services training 
programs;
    (4) If preparing beginning special educators, the program is 
designed to provide extended clinical learning opportunities, field 
experiences, or supervised practica (such as an additional year) and 
ongoing high quality mentoring and induction opportunities;
    (5) The program includes field-based training opportunities for 
scholars (as defined in 34 CFR 304.3(g)) in diverse settings including 
schools and settings in high-poverty communities, rural areas, and 
urban areas;
    (6) The proposed training program will enable scholars to be highly 
qualified in accordance with section 602(10) of IDEA in the State(s) to 
be served by the applicant;
    (7) The training program equips scholars with the knowledge and 
skills necessary to assist children effectively in achieving State 
learning standards; and
    (8) The training program provides student support systems 
(including tutors, mentors, and other innovative practices) to enhance 
student retention and success in the program;
    (b) Include in the narrative section of the application 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 scientifically based or 
evidence-based instruction and services that result in improved 
outcomes for children with disabilities. Applicants also must clearly 
describe under ``Quality of Project Evaluation'' how the project will 
report these evaluation results to the Office of Special Education 
Programs (OSEP) in the grantee's annual performance reports and final 
performance report;
    (c) Meet the following statutory requirements of IDEA: (1) 
Demonstrate that the activities described in the application will 
address needs identified by the State or States the applicant proposes 
to serve, the impact of the proposed project in meeting the need for 
personnel identified by the State(s), and that the State or States 
intend to accept successful completion of the proposed personnel 
preparation program as meeting State personnel standards, including 
standards established to implement the IDEA requirement that all 
teachers be highly qualified, or other requirements in State law or 
regulations for serving children with disabilities or serving infants 
and toddlers with disabilities (see sections 662(e)(2)(A), 662(e)(3), 
and 662(f)(1) and (2) of IDEA). Letters from one or more States that 
the project proposes to serve could be one method for addressing these 
requirements.
    (2) Demonstrate that the applicant will cooperate with one or more 
State educational agencies--or, if appropriate, State appointed lead 
agencies responsible for providing early intervention services--or 
local educational agencies in carrying out and monitoring the proposed 
project (see section 662(e)(2)(B) of IDEA).
    (3) Demonstrate how the project involves individuals with 
disabilities or parents of individuals with disabilities ages birth 
through 26 in planning, implementing, and evaluating the project (see 
section 682(a)(1)(A) of IDEA).
    (4) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under 
the project agree to pay all or part of the amount of the scholarship, 
in

[[Page 46211]]

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; and
    (d) Meet the following additional requirements: (1) Assure that at 
least 60 percent of the total requested budget per year be used for 
student training stipends.
    (2) Budget for a three-day Project Director's meeting in 
Washington, DC, during each year of the project.
    (3) If the project maintains a Web site, include relevant 
information and documents in a form that meets a government or 
industry-recognized standard for accessibility.
    (4) Include, in the application appendix, all course syllabi for 
the proposed training program. Course syllabi must clearly reflect the 
incorporation of research-based curriculum and pedagogy as required 
under paragraph (a) of this priority.
    (5) Agree to submit electronically annual data on each scholar who 
receives grant support 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).

Focus Areas

    Within this absolute priority, the Secretary intends to support 
projects under the following four focus areas: (a) Training Personnel 
to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and Pre-school Age Children with 
Disabilities, (b) Training Personnel to Serve School Age Children with 
Low Incidence Disabilities, (c) Training Personnel to Provide Related 
Services, Speech/Language Services, and Adapted Physical Education to 
Infants, Toddlers, Children and Youth with Disabilities, and (d) 
Training Personnel in Minority Institutions to Serve Infants, Toddlers, 
Children and Youth with Disabilities.

    Note: Applicants must identify the specific focus area (i.e., 
(a), (b), (c), or (d), under which they are applying as part of the 
competition title on the application cover sheet (ED form 424, line 
4). Applicants may not submit the same proposal under more than one 
focus area.

    Focus Area a: Training Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and 
Pre-school Age Children with Disabilities. For the purpose of this 
focus area, early intervention personnel are those who are trained to 
provide services to infants and toddlers with disabilities ages birth 
through two, and early childhood personnel are those who are trained to 
provide services to children with disabilities ages three through five 
(in States where the age range is other than ages three through five, 
we will defer to the State's certification for early childhood). In 
States where certification in early intervention (EI) is combined with 
certification in early childhood (EC), applicants may propose a 
combined EI/EC training project under this focus area. Projects 
training related services, speech/language, or adapted physical 
education personnel are not eligible under this focus area (see Focus 
Area c).
    Focus Area b: Training Personnel to Serve School Age Children with 
Low Incidence Disabilities. For the purpose of this focus area, low 
incidence personnel are special education personnel, including 
paraprofessionals, trained to serve school-age children with low 
incidence disabilities including visual impairments, hearing 
impairments, simultaneous vision and hearing impairments, significant 
cognitive impairments (severe mental retardation), orthopedic 
impairments, autism, and traumatic brain injury. Programs preparing 
special education personnel to provide services to visually impaired or 
blind children that can be appropriately provided in Braille must 
prepare those individuals to provide those services in Braille. 
Projects training educational interpreters are eligible under this 
focus area. Projects training other related services, speech/language 
or adapted physical education personnel are not eligible under this 
focus area (see Focus Area c). Projects training special education pre-
school personnel are eligible under Focus Area a.
    Focus Area c: Training Personnel to Provide Related Services, 
Speech/Language Services, and Adapted Physical Education to Infants, 
Toddlers, Children and Youth with Disabilities. Programs training 
related services, speech/language or adapted physical education 
personnel to serve infants, toddlers, children and youth with high-or 
low incidence disabilities are eligible within this focus area. For the 
purpose of this focus area, related services include, but are not 
limited to, psychological services, physical therapy, occupational 
therapy, therapeutic recreation, social work services, counseling 
services, audiology services (including personnel trained at the Doctor 
of Audiology level), and speech/language services. Training programs in 
States where personnel trained to serve children with speech/language 
impairments are considered to be special educators are eligible under 
this focus area. Projects training educational interpreters are not 
eligible under this focus area, but should apply under Focus Area b.
    Focus Area d: Training Personnel in Minority Institutions to Serve 
Infants, Toddlers, Children and Youth with Disabilities. Programs in 
minority institutions that are training special education personnel, 
including adapted physical education and related services personnel, to 
serve infants, toddlers, children and youth with high- or low incidence 
disabilities are eligible within this focus area. Minority institutions 
include institutions with a minority student enrollment of 25 percent 
or more, which may include Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, Tribal Colleges, and Predominantly Hispanic Serving 
Colleges and Universities. Within this focus area, institutions that 
are recommended for funding in FY 2007 and that have not received 
support under the IDEA Personnel Development Program in FY 2006 will 
receive 10 competitive preference points.
    Under Focus Area d, a project may budget for less than the required 
percentage (60 percent) for student training support if the applicant 
can provide sufficient justification for any designation less than 60 
percent for student scholarships. Sufficient justification for 
proposing less than 60 percent of the budget for student support would 
include support for activities such as program development, program 
expansion, or the addition of a new area of emphasis. Some examples 
include the following:
     A project that is starting a new program may request up to 
a year for program development and capacity building. In the initial 
project year, no student support would be required. Instead, a project 
could hire a new faculty member or a consultant to assist in program 
development.
     A project that is proposing to build capacity may hire a 
field supervisor so that additional students can be trained.
     A project that is expanding or adding a new emphasis area 
to the program may hire additional faculty or other resources such as 
expert consultants, additional training supplies, or equipment that 
would enhance the program.
    Projects that are funded to develop, expand, or to add a new area 
of emphasis to special education or related services programs must 
provide information on how these new areas will be maintained once 
Federal funding ends.
    Competitive Preference Priority: For FY 2007, this priority is a 
competitive

[[Page 46212]]

preference priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award up to an 
additional five points to an application depending on how well the 
application meets this priority.
    This competitive preference priority is: Recruitment of Individuals 
with Disabilities and Individuals from Underrepresented Groups: We give 
competitive preference to IHEs based on the extent to which they 
successfully recruit individuals with disabilities and individuals from 
groups that are underrepresented in the profession for which they are 
preparing individuals. In the case of a new project, the applicant must 
submit a plan with strategies on how it will meet this competitive 
preference priority.

    Note: The statute does not authorize the selection of trainees 
on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, or disability status.

    Invitational Priorities: For FY 2007 these priorities are 
invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an 
application that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or 
absolute preference over other applications.
    These priorities are:
    (1) In Focus Areas b and d, the Secretary is particularly 
interested in programs that prepare special educators who provide 
instruction in core academic areas to children with disabilities.
    (2) The Secretary is also particularly interested in programs that 
provide enhanced support for beginning special educators (see section 
662(b)(3) of IDEA).
    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 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, and 99. (b) The regulations for this 
program in 34 CFR part 304.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$90,626,000 for the Personnel Development to Improve Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities program for FY 2007, of which we 
intend to use an estimated $11,692,000 for the Combined Priority for 
Personnel Preparation competition. The actual level of funding, if any, 
depends on final congressional action. However, we are inviting 
applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if 
Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    For funding information regarding each of the specific focus areas 
of the absolute priority, see the chart in this section of this notice.
    Estimated Range of Awards: See chart.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
    Maximum Awards: See chart.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
    Project Period: Up to 48 months.

   Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities Application Notice for
                                                Fiscal Year 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Estimated       Estimated                       Estimated
              CFDA Number and name                   range of      average size    Maximum award     number of
                                                      awards         of awards    (per year) \*\      awards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.325K Combined Priority for Personnel           ..............
 Preparation:
Focus Area a: Training Personnel to Serve         $150,000-$200,        $175,000        $200,000              13
 Infants, Toddlers, and Pre-school Age Children              000
 with Disabilities..............................
Focus Area b: Training Personnel to Serve School  $150,000-$200,        $175,000        $200,000              17
 Age Children with Low Incidence Disabilities...             000
Focus Area c: Training Personnel to Provide       $150,000-$200,        $175,000        $200,000              14
 Related Services, Speech/Language Services, and             000
 Adapted Physical Education to Infants,
 Toddlers, Children and Youth with Disabilities.
Focus Area d: Training Personnel in Minority      $150,000-$200,        $175,000        $200,000             14
 Institutions to Serve Infants, Toddlers,                    000
 Children and Youth with Disabilities...........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the maximum award specified 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.


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

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not involve cost 
sharing or matching.

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 84.325K.
    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

[[Page 46213]]

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.
    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: August 11, 
2006.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: October 10, 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: December 11, 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 governmentwide 
Grants.gov Apply site in FY 2007. The Combined Priority for Personnel 
Preparation competition--CFDA Number 84.325K 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 Combined 
Priority for Personnel Preparation competition--CFDA Number 84.325K 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/applicants/get_registered.jsp). 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/section910/Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.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.

[[Page 46214]]

     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 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 84.325K), 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 
84.325K), 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 
84.325K), 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

    1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are listed in the application 
package.
    2. Treating a Priority as Two Separate Competitions: In the past, 
there have been problems in finding peer reviewers without conflicts of 
interest for competitions in which many entities throughout the country 
submit applications. The Standing Panel requirements under IDEA also 
have placed additional constraints on the availability of reviewers. 
Therefore, the Department has determined that, for some discretionary 
competitions, applications may be separated into two or more groups and 
ranked and selected for funding within the specific group. This 
procedure will ensure the availability of a much larger group of 
reviewers without conflicts of interest. It also will increase the 
quality, independence and fairness of the review process and permit 
panel members to review applications under discretionary competitions 
for which they have also submitted applications. However, if the 
Department decides to select for funding an equal number of 
applications in each group, this may result in different cut-off points 
for fundable applications in each group.

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

[[Page 46215]]

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 absolute priority in this notice, you must 
submit annual data on each scholar who receives grant support through 
your project.
    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 Development program. These measures 
include: (1) The percentage of projects that incorporate 
scientifically-or evidence-based practices, (2) the percentage of 
scholars who exit training programs prior to completion due to poor 
academic performance, (3) the percentage of degree or certification 
recipients employed upon program completion who are working in the 
area(s) for which they were trained, (4) the percentage of degree or 
certification recipients employed upon program completion who are 
working in the area(s) for which they were trained and are fully 
qualified under IDEA; and (5) the percentage of degree/certification 
recipients who maintain employment in the area(s) for which they are 
trained for three or more years and are fully qualified under IDEA.
    Grantees will be required to collect and report data on grant-
supported scholars through the PPD Web site at http://www.oespppd.org 
(see paragraph (d)(5) under the absolute priority section of this 
notice).
    The Department also has developed long-term measures that are 
designed to yield information on various aspects of program quality. 
These measures include: (1) The percentage of scholars completing IDEA-
funded training programs who are knowledgeable and skilled in 
scientifically- or evidence-based practices for infants, toddlers, 
children and youth with disabilities; and (2) the percentage of low 
incidence positions that are filled by personnel who are fully 
qualified under IDEA. Grantees may be asked to participate in assessing 
and providing information on these long-term aspects of program 
quality.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Maryann McDermott, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Potomac Center Plaza, room 
4062, Washington, DC 20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 245-7439 or by e-
mail: [email protected].
    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: August 8, 2006.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E6-13213 Filed 8-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P