[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14781-14789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5497]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information, Training and Information for Parents of Children With 
Disabilities; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2008

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

    Note: This notice invites applications for two separate 
competitions. For key dates, contact person information, and funding 
information regarding each competition, see the chart in the Award 
Information section of this notice.

    Dates:
    Applications Available: See chart.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: See chart.

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: 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, 673 
and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)). 
Each of the absolute priorities announced in this notice corresponds to 
a separate competition as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Absolute priority                  Competition CFDA No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community Parent Resource Centers.........  84.328C
Technical Assistance for the Parent         84.328R
 Centers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 14782]]

    Absolute Priorities: For FY 2008 and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards based on the list of unfunded applications from these 
competitions, these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), for each competition, we consider only applications that 
meet the absolute priority for that competition.
    These priorities are:
    Absolute Priority 1--Community Parent Resource Centers (84.328C).
    Background: This priority supports community parent resource 
centers (CPRCs) 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 cooperatively and 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.
    Priority: To be considered for funding under the Community Parent 
Resource Centers (CPRC) absolute priority, applicants must meet the 
application requirements contained in the priority. All projects funded 
under the absolute priority also must meet the programmatic and 
administrative requirements specified in the priority.
    Application Requirements. An applicant must include in its 
application--
    (a) A plan to implement the activities described in the Project 
Activities section of this priority; and
    (b) A budget for attendance at a three-day National Technical 
Assistance for Parent Center Conference in Washington, DC during each 
year of the project period.
    Project Activities. To meet the requirements of this priority, the 
CPRC, at a minimum, must:
    (a) Provide training and information that meets the training and 
information needs of parents of children with disabilities within the 
proposed targeted community to be served by the CPRC, particularly 
underserved parents and parents of children who may be inappropriately 
identified as having disabilities when they do not have them.

    Note: For purposes of this priority, ``community to be served'' 
refers to a geographically defined, local 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 following activities required of parent training 
and information centers:
    (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--
    (i) Better understand the nature of their children's disabilities 
and their educational, developmental, and transitional needs;
    (ii) Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with 
personnel responsible for providing special education, early 
intervention services, transition services, and related services;
    (iii) Participate in decision making processes, including those 
regarding participation in State and local assessments, and the 
development of individualized education programs under Part B of IDEA 
and individualized family service plans under Part C of IDEA;
    (iv) Obtain appropriate information about the range, type, and 
quality of--
    (A) Options, programs, services, technologies, practices, and 
interventions that are based on scientifically based research, to the 
extent practicable; and
    (B) Resources available to assist children with disabilities and 
their families in school and at home, including information available 
through the Office of Special Education Programs' (OSEP) technical 
assistance centers and communities of practice (http://www.tacommunities.org);
    (v) Understand the provisions of IDEA for the education of, and the 
provision of early intervention services to, children with 
disabilities;
    (vi) Participate in activities at the school level that benefit 
their children; and
    (vii) Participate in school reform activities.
    (4) In States where the State elects to contract with the CPRCs, 
contract with the State educational agencies (SEAs) to provide, 
consistent with paragraphs (B) and (D) of section 615(e)(2) of IDEA, 
individuals to meet with parents in order to explain the mediation 
process.
    (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.
    (8) Assist parents in understanding, preparing for, and 
participating in, the resolution session as described in section 
615(f)(1)(B) of IDEA.
    (c) Establish cooperative partnerships with any Parent Training and 
Information Centers (PTIs) and any other CPRCs funded in the State 
under sections 671 and 672 of IDEA.
    (d) Be designed to meet the specific needs of families who 
experience significant isolation from available sources of information 
and support.
    (e) Be familiar with the provision of special education, related 
services, and early intervention services in the CPRC's community to be 
served to help ensure that children with disabilities are receiving 
appropriate services.
    (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 additional information regarding their unique needs and 
levels of service provided to them; 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) Respond to requests from the OSEP-funded 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.
    (h) If the CPRC maintains a Web site, include relevant information 
and documents in a format that meets a government or industry-
recognized standard for accessibility.
    (i) In collaboration with OSEP and the NTAC, participate in an 
annual collection of program data for the PTIs

[[Page 14783]]

and CPRCs funded under sections 671 and 672 of IDEA, respectively.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: Within Absolute Priority 1, we 
give competitive preference to applications that address the following 
two priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we will award up to 10 
additional points to an application that meets these priorities.

    Note: The 10 points an applicant can earn under these 
competitive preference priorities are in addition to those points 
awarded under the selection criteria for this competition (see 
Selection Criteria in section V in this notice). That is, an 
applicant meeting the competitive preference priorities could earn a 
maximum total of 110 points.

    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Empowerment Zones, Enterprise 
Communities, or Renewal Communities.
    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://egis.hud.gov/egis/cpd/rcezec/ezec_open.htm).
    To meet this priority, an applicant must indicate that it will--
    (1) Either (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; and
    (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.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Novice Applicants.
    We will award an additional five points to an application from a 
novice applicant. This priority is from 34 CFR 75.225. The term 
``novice applicant'' means any applicant for a grant from the U.S. 
Department of Education that--
    (1) Has never received a grant or subgrant under the program from 
which it seeks funding;
    (2) Has never been a member of a group application, submitted in 
accordance with 34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129, that received a grant 
under the program from which it seeks funding; and
    (3) Has not had an active discretionary grant from the Federal 
Government in the five years before the deadline date for applications 
under this program (Training and Information for Parents of Children 
with Disabilities--Community Parent Resource Centers). For the purposes 
of this requirement, a grant is active until the end of the grant's 
project or funding period, including any extensions of those periods 
that extend the grantee's authority to obligate funds.
    In the case of a group application submitted in accordance with 34 
CFR 75.127 through 75.129, all group members must meet the requirements 
described in this priority to qualify as a novice applicant.
    Absolute Priority 2--Technical Assistance for the Parent Centers 
(84.328R).
    Background: This priority, authorized under section 673 of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), supports the 
establishment and operation of seven technical assistance centers--one 
national in scope and six regional in scope. These centers will provide 
technical assistance (TA) to support the development and coordination 
of parent training and information programs carried out by Parent 
Training and Information Centers (PTIs) funded under section 671 of 
IDEA and the Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) funded under 
section 672 of IDEA.
    This priority builds on the investments made by the Office of 
Special Education Programs (OSEP) in the area of TA by supporting a 
unified and coordinated TA system for the parent programs carried out 
by PTIs and CPRCs by strengthening connections between the TA system 
for parent centers and the Department's Technical Assistance and 
Dissemination Network (TA&D Network), which is comprised of national 
and regional projects funded by the Department.
    Due to the increase in information available regarding services for 
children with disabilities and the complexity of that information, TA 
centers are needed to support PTIs and CPRCs to build their content 
knowledge and expertise in special and regular education laws, 
policies, and evidence-based practices. TA centers also are needed to 
support PTIs and CPRCs as they increase their capacity to help families 
of children with disabilities, ages birth through 26, understand 
special and regular education laws, policies, and evidence-based 
practices and use that knowledge to best advocate for appropriate 
services and supports for their children.
    The activities of the TA centers funded under this priority will 
help strengthen partnerships among the PTIs, CPRCs, and their 
respective State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational 
agencies (LEAs), and lead agencies. These partnerships facilitate 
shared decision-making between agencies and parent programs, resulting 
in improved outcomes for children and families served under IDEA. For 
further information on OSEP's support of TA to the PTIs and CPRCs go to 
http://www.taalliance.org.
    Priority: This priority will fund seven centers, through 
cooperative agreements, in two focus areas. Under Focus Area 1, the 
Department intends to fund one National Technical Assistance Center for 
Parent Centers (National Parent TAC); and under Focus Area 2, the 
Department intends to support six Regional Technical Assistance Centers 
for Parent Centers (Regional Parent TACs). The six Regional Parent TACs 
will be awarded to represent the following six geographic regions:
    Region 1 Parent TAC: CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT.
    Region 2 Parent TAC: DE, KY, MD, NC, SC, TN, VA, DC, WV.
    Region 3 Parent TAC: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, OK, Puerto Rico, TX, 
U.S. Virgin Islands.
    Region 4 Parent TAC: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, PA, WI.
    Region 5 Parent TAC: AZ, CO, KS, MT, NE, ND, NM, SD, UT, WY.
    Region 6 Parent TAC: AK, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, WA, the outlying areas 
of the Pacific Basin, and the Freely Associated States.
    To be considered for funding under the Technical Assistance for the 
Parent Centers absolute priority, applicants must meet the application 
requirements contained in the priority. All projects funded under the 
absolute priority also must meet the programmatic and administrative 
requirements specified in the priority.
    Application Requirements for Focus Areas 1 and 2. An applicant must 
include in its application--
    (a) A logic model that depicts, at a minimum, the goals, 
activities, outputs, and outcomes of the proposed project. A logic 
model communicates how a project will achieve its outcomes and provides 
a framework for both the formative and summative evaluations of the 
project;

    Note: For more information on logic models, the following Web 
site lists multiple online resources: http://www.cdc.gov/eval/resources.htm.


[[Page 14784]]


    (b) A plan to implement the activities described in the Project 
Activities sections of this priority;
    (c) A plan, linked to the proposed project's logic model, for a 
formative evaluation of the proposed project's activities. The plan 
must describe how the formative evaluation will use clear performance 
objectives to ensure continuous improvement in the operation of the 
proposed project, including objective measures of progress in 
implementing the project and ensuring the quality of products and 
services;
    (d) A budget for attendance at the following:
    (1) A one and one half day kick-off meeting to be held in 
Washington, DC within four weeks after receipt of the award, and an 
annual planning meeting held in Washington, DC with the OSEP Project 
Officer during each subsequent year of the project period.
    (2) A three-day Project Directors' Conference in Washington, DC 
during each year of the project period.
    (3) A four-day Technical Assistance and Dissemination Conference in 
Washington, DC during each year of the project period.
    (4) A three-day National Technical Assistance for Parent Center 
Conference in Washington, DC during each year of the project; and
    (e) A line item in the proposed budget for an annual set-aside of 
five percent of the grant amount to support emerging needs that are 
consistent with the proposed project's activities, as those needs are 
identified in consultation with OSEP.

    Note: With approval from the OSEP Project Officer, the center 
must reallocate any remaining funds from this annual set-aside no 
later than the end of the third quarter of each budget period.

    Project Activities for Focus Areas 1 and 2. To meet the 
requirements of this priority, each center, at a minimum, must conduct 
the following activities:
    (a) Review documents and publications from centers in the OSEP-
funded TA&D Network, as requested by OSEP, to ensure that the documents 
and publications are relevant to and understandable by families.
    (b) Maintain communication and collaboration between the National 
Parent TAC and the Regional Parent TACs, as requested by OSEP, to 
ensure that products and services are relevant to and accessible to 
families. This collaboration could include the shared development of 
products, the coordination of technical assistance services, and the 
planning and carrying out of technical assistance meetings and events.
    (c) Participate in, organize, or facilitate, as appropriate, OSEP 
communities of practice (http://www.tacommunities.org/) that are 
aligned with the center's objectives as a way to support discussions 
and collaboration among key stakeholders.
    (d) Prior to developing any new product, whether paper or 
electronic, submit to the OSEP Project Officer and the Proposed Product 
Advisory Board at OSEP's Technical Assistance Coordination Center 
(TACC), which OSEP intends to fund in FY 2008, for approval, a proposal 
describing the content and purpose of the product.
    (e) Coordinate with the National Dissemination Center for 
Individuals with Disabilities, which OSEP intends to fund in FY 2008, 
to develop an efficient and high-quality dissemination strategy that 
reaches broad audiences. The Center must report to the OSEP Project 
Officer the outcomes of these coordination efforts.
    (f) Contribute, on an ongoing basis, updated information on the 
Center's services to OSEP's Technical Assistance and Dissemination 
Matrix (http://matrix.rrfcnetwork.org), which provides current 
information on Department-funded TA services to a range of 
stakeholders.
    (g) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility and that links to the Web site 
operated by the TACC.
    (h) Maintain ongoing communication with the OSEP Project Officer 
through monthly phone conversations and e-mail communication.
    Project Activities for Focus Area 1. To meet the requirements of 
Focus Area 1 under this priority, the National Parent TAC, at a 
minimum, must conduct the following activities:
    (a) Contribute to improved outcomes for PTIs and CPRCs by 
supporting collaborative activities among and between the six Regional 
Parent TACs and the National Parent TAC.
    (b) Develop or adapt and disseminate, in collaboration with the 
Regional Parent TACs, resources and training materials that incorporate 
evidence-based practices for the PTIs and CPRCs to use in their 
training and information activities. When developing or adapting and 
disseminating these materials, the National Parent TAC must solicit 
feedback from experts in the field. The resource and training materials 
must address, at a minimum, the following topics identified in section 
673 of IDEA:
    (1) Promoting effective strategies for the use of technology, 
including assistive technology devices and assistive technology 
services.
    (2) Developing strategies to reach underserved populations, 
including parents of low-income and limited English proficient children 
with disabilities.
    (3) Promoting strategies to include children with disabilities in 
general education programs.
    (4) Facilitating effective transitions for children with 
disabilities from early intervention services to preschool, preschool 
to elementary school, elementary school to secondary school, and 
secondary school to postsecondary environments.
    (5) Promoting alternative methods of dispute resolution, including 
mediation.
    (6) Disseminating scientifically based research and information, 
particularly in the areas of assessment, literacy, behavior, 
instructional strategies, early intervention, and inclusive practices.
    (c) Establish and maintain a cadre of experts available to the 
National Parent TAC during product development to provide content 
knowledge and information on evidence-based practices to support 
infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities and their families.
    (d) Conduct, in collaboration with the six Regional Parent TACs, an 
assessment of the PTIs and the CPRCs' training and information needs on 
such topics as parental involvement, evidence-based practices, and 
improving outcomes for children with disabilities.
    (e) Develop or adapt, in collaboration with the six Regional Parent 
TACs, training materials for the PTIs and CPRCs on: Best practices in 
non-profit management; developing parent leadership; developing and 
sustaining outreach strategies to reach the broad range of families the 
PTIs and CPRCs serve; participating in systems change; working with 
SEAs, LEAs, and local agencies; and understanding State information 
sources such as State Performance Plans (SPPs) and Annual Performance 
Reports (APRs).
    (f) Maximize the technological capacity of the PTIs and CPRCs by 
identifying and providing access to appropriate training.
    (g) Provide direct TA to the OSEP-funded National Parent Centers 
Serving Native American and Military Families.
    (h) Develop an evaluation instrument, in collaboration with the six 
Regional Parent TACs and the OSEP Project Officer and to be approved by 
the OSEP Project Officer, that enables the PTIs and CPRCs to measure 
their program effectiveness and the outcomes for the families of 
children with disabilities that they serve.

[[Page 14785]]

    (i) Establish a mechanism for annually collecting and reporting 
data on parent program outcomes that are gathered by the evaluation 
instrument developed in paragraph (h) of this priority and from other 
relevant data sources. The mechanism for collecting and reporting data 
referenced in this paragraph will be identified collaboratively with 
the OSEP Project Officer and the six Regional Parent TACs.
    (j) Develop, maintain, and make available on its Web site, a 
database of all OSEP-funded parent program centers, which must include 
PTIs, including the National Parent Centers Serving Native American and 
Military Families, CPRCs, and the National and Regional Parent TACs, in 
order to connect families to parent programs that serve them.
    (k) Plan and conduct an annual National Technical Assistance for 
Parent Center Conference for OSEP-funded parent program centers and 
other stakeholders in collaboration with the OSEP Project Officer and 
with input from the six Regional Parent TACs, PTIs and CPRCs, as well 
as a conference advisory panel approved by the OSEP Project Officer to 
be convened by the National Parent TAC.
    (l) Plan and conduct, as designated by the OSEP Project Officer and 
with input from the six Regional Parent TACs, a New Directors' 
Conference in the fall of each year of the project period for all new 
directors of PTIs and CPRCs as well as other project staff, as 
appropriate.
    (m) Conduct a summative evaluation of the National Parent TAC in 
collaboration with the Center to Improve Project Performance (CIPP) as 
described in the following paragraphs. This summative evaluation must 
examine the outcomes or impact of the National Parent TAC's activities 
in order to assess the effectiveness of those activities.

    Note: In FY 2008, OSEP intends to fund CIPP. The major tasks of 
CIPP would be to guide, coordinate, and oversee the summative 
evaluations conducted by selected Technical Assistance, Personnel 
Development, Parent Training and Information Center, and Technology 
projects that individually receive $500,000 or more funding from 
OSEP annually. The efforts of CIPP are expected to enhance 
individual project evaluations by providing expert and unbiased 
assistance in designing evaluations, conducting analyses, and 
interpreting data.

    To fulfill the requirements of the summative evaluation to be 
conducted under the guidance of CIPP, the National Parent TAC must--
    (1) Hire or designate, with the approval of the OSEP Project 
Officer, a project liaison staff person with sufficient dedicated time 
and knowledge of the National Parent TAC to work with CIPP on the 
following tasks: (i) planning the National Parent TAC's summative 
evaluation (e.g., selecting evaluation questions, developing a timeline 
for the evaluation, locating sources of relevant data, and refining the 
logic model used for the evaluation), (ii) developing the summative 
evaluation design and instrumentation (e.g., determining quantitative 
or qualitative data collection strategies, selecting respondent 
samples, and pilot testing instruments), (iii) coordinating the 
evaluation timeline with the implementation of the National Parent 
TAC's activities, (iv) collecting summative data, and (v) writing 
reports of summative evaluation findings;
    (2) Cooperate with CIPP staff in order to accomplish the tasks 
described in paragraph (1) of this section; and
    (3) Dedicate $20,000 of the annual budget request for this project 
to cover the costs of carrying out the tasks described in paragraphs 
(1) and (2) of this section as well as implementing the National Parent 
TAC's proposed formative evaluation.
    Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project: In deciding whether to 
continue funding the National Parent TAC for the fourth and fifth 
years, the Secretary will consider the requirements of 34 CFR 
75.253(a), and in addition--
    (a) The recommendation of a review team consisting of experts 
selected by the Secretary. This review will be conducted during a one-
day intensive meeting in Washington, DC that will be held during the 
last half of the second year of the project period. The National Parent 
TAC must budget for travel expenses associated with this one-day 
intensive review;
    (b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of 
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the 
National Parent TAC; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the National Parent 
TAC's activities and products and the degree to which the National 
Parent TAC's activities and products have contributed to changed 
practice and improved child and family outcomes.
    Project Activities for Focus Area 2. To meet the requirements of 
Focus Area 2 under this priority, each Regional Parent TAC must conduct 
the following activities:
    (a) Conduct, in collaboration with the National Parent TAC, an 
assessment of the training and information needs of the PTIs and CPRCs 
located in its region.
    (b) Provide direct TA to PTIs and CPRCs in its region on relevant 
topics including, but not limited to:
    (1) Promoting effective strategies for the use of technology, 
including assistive technology devices and assistive technology 
services.
    (2) Developing strategies to reach underserved populations, 
including parents of low-income and limited English proficient children 
with disabilities.
    (3) Promoting strategies to include children with disabilities in 
regular education programs.
    (4) Facilitating effective transitions for children with 
disabilities from early intervention services to preschool; preschool 
to elementary school; elementary school to secondary school; and 
secondary school to postsecondary environments.
    (5) Promoting alternative methods of dispute resolution, including 
mediation.
    (6) Promoting the use of evidence-based practices.
    (c) Make two TA site visits to each PTI and CPRC in its region 
during the project period and additional site visits as determined 
jointly by the Regional Parent TAC and the region's PTIs and CPRCs. At 
these site visits, Regional Parent TACs could provide, for example, 
trainings on State and local systems change activities, working with 
SEAs, LEAs, and local agencies, and understanding State information 
sources such as SPPs and APRs, financial management, measuring program 
effectiveness and outcomes, strategic planning, capacity building, 
leadership development, continuous development and assessment of the 
effectiveness of outreach strategies, effective PTI and CPRC service-
delivery models, and effective board management.
    (d) Respond to requests from the OSEP Project Officer and the 
National Parent TAC for feedback on materials developed by the National 
Parent TAC.
    (e) Participate in the National Parent TAC's conference advisory 
panel for the purpose of planning the annual National Technical 
Assistance for Parent Center Conference in each year of the project 
period.
    (f) Conduct one regional conference each year for PTI and CPRC 
directors and staff in the region.
    (g) Serve as members of the National Parent TAC cadre of experts to 
provide content knowledge and information on evidence-based practices 
that support infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities and 
their families during product development.
    Competitive Preference Priorities: Within Absolute Priority 2, we 
give competitive preference to applications

[[Page 14786]]

that address the following priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), we 
will award additional points to an application that meets these 
priorities.

    Note: The points an applicant can earn under these competitive 
preference priorities are in addition to those points awarded under 
the selection criteria for this competition (see Selection Criteria 
in section V in this notice).

    Applications under Focus Area 1 can be awarded a total of 10 points 
in addition to those awarded under the selection criteria for this 
program for a maximum total of 110 points.
    Applications under Focus Area 2 can be awarded 10 points in 
addition to those awarded under the selection criteria for this program 
if they meet the requirements of Competitive Preference Priority 1 or 
Competitive Preference Priority 2 for a maximum total of 110 points, 
and 20 points if they meet both Competitive Preference Priorities for a 
maximum total of 120 points.
    These priorities are:
    Competitive Preference Priority 1--Parent Organizations, as Defined 
in Section 671(a)(2) of IDEA.
    We will award 10 points under Focus Areas 1 and 2 of the absolute 
priority to any applicant that is a parent organization, as defined in 
section 671(a)(2) of IDEA. This section of IDEA defines the term 
``parent organization'' as a private non-profit organization (other 
than an institution of higher education) that--
    (1) Has a board of directors--
    (i) The majority of whom are parents of children with disabilities 
ages birth through 26;
    (ii) That includes--
    (A) Individuals working in the fields of special education, related 
services, and early intervention; and
    (B) Individuals with disabilities; and
    (C) 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
    (2) Has as its mission serving families of children with 
disabilities who--
    (i) Are ages birth through 26; and
    (ii) Have the full range of disabilities described in section 
602(3) of IDEA.
    Competitive Preference Priority 2--Applicants under Focus Area 2 
that are Located in the Region They Propose to Serve.
    We will award 10 points to an applicant applying under Focus Area 2 
of the absolute priority if that applicant is located in the region it 
proposes to serve.
    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 IDEA, however, makes the public comment 
requirements of the APA inapplicable to the priorities in this notice.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1472, 1473 and 1481.
    Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 
85, 97, 98, and 99.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants for competition CFDA 84.328C 
and cooperative agreements for competition CFDA 84.328R.
    Estimated Available Funds: $3,400,000. Please refer to the 
``Estimated Average Size of Awards'' column of the chart in this 
section for the estimated dollar amounts for individual competitions.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications for the competitions announced in this notice, we may make 
additional awards in FY 2009 from the lists of unfunded applicants from 
individual competitions.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: See chart.
    Maximum Award: See chart.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See chart.
    Project Period: See chart.

                 Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Training and Information for Parents of Children With Disabilities Program Application Notice for Fiscal Year 2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Deadline for                                   Estimated
                                  Applications   transmittal     Deadline for     Estimated     average     Maximum award   Estimated                       Page
        CFDA No. and name           available        of       intergovernmental   available     size of      (per year)*    number of    Project period     limit          Contact person
                                                applications        review          funds        awards                       awards
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 84.328C Community Parent             03/19/08      04/18/08        06/17/08      $1,000,000     $100,000       $100,000*           10  Up to 36 mos....        50  Carmen Sanchez, (202) 245-
 Resource Centers.                                                                                                                                                   6595, Rm 4055.
84.328R Technical Assistance for
 the Parent Centers:
    Focus Area 1: National            03/19/08      04/18/08        06/17/08        $765,000     $765,000       $765,000*            1  Up to 60 mos....        70  Lisa Groove, (202) 245-7357,
     Parent TAC.                                                                                                                                                     Rm 4056.
    Focus Area 2: Regional            03/19/08      04/18/08        06/17/08      $1,635,000     $272,500       $272,500*            6  Up to 60 mos....  ........
     Parent TAC.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 *We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding the maximum award 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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Absolute priority                   Eligible applicants
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community Parent Resource Centers           Local parent organizations.
 (84.328C).
Technical Assistance for the Parent         Nonprofit private
 Centers (84.328R).                          organizations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: 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--
    (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.
    (b) Has as its mission serving parents of children with 
disabilities from that community who (1) are ages birth through 26, 
and (2) 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

[[Page 14787]]

    (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 are ages birth through 26, and have the full range of 
disabilities described in section 602(3) of IDEA.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: General Requirements--(a) The projects funded under this 
program 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 program 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), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or at its e-mail address: [email protected].
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify the competition to which you want to apply, as follows: CFDA 
number 84.328C or 84.328R.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team 
listed under Alternative Format in section VIII 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 the competitions 
announced in this notice.
    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. For each competition, you 
must limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than the number of 
pages listed under ``Page Limit'' for that competition in the chart 
under Award Information, 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; the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, the references, or the letters of support. 
However, the page limit does apply to all of the application narrative 
(Part III).
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit; or if 
you use other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: See chart.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See chart.
    Applications for grants under this program 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 in 
paper format 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.
    Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII 
in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or 
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the 
application process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice. Deadline for 
Intergovernmental Review: See chart.
    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 each of the competitions 
announced in this notice.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this program may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail 
or hand delivery.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
    To comply with the President's Management Agenda, we are 
participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site. 
The Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities 
competitions, CFDA Numbers 84.328C and 84.328R, announced in this 
notice are included in this project. We request your participation in 
Grants.gov.
    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must 
use the Governmentwide 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 Training 
and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities program 
competitions--CFDA Numbers 84.328C and 84.328R 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 (e.g., search for 84.328, not 
84.328C).
    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 date and time 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must 
be date and 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 and 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 and time stamped by the

[[Page 14788]]

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 submission 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 the competition to which you 
are applying to ensure that you submit your application in a timely 
manner to the Grants.gov system. You also can 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 steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp). These steps include (1) 
registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes 
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (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 submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In 
addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual 
basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.
     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.
     If you submit your application electronically, you must 
submit all documents electronically, including all information you 
typically provide on the following forms: Application for Federal 
Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental 
Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs 
(ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note 
that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the Department of Education 
Supplemental Information for SF 424--have replaced the ED 424 
(Application for Federal Education Assistance).
     If you 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 in 
this paragraph 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 from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that 
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates 
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The 
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send 
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification 
indicates that the Department has received your application and has 
assigned your application 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 Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting 
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov 
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a 
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
    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 described elsewhere in this notice.
    If you submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, 
on the application deadline date, please contact the person listed 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this notice and 
provide an explanation of the technical problem you experienced with 
Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. 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: The extensions to which we refer 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 application 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 84.328C 
or 84.328R), 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 
or 84.328R), 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.
    (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.
    (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.


[[Page 14789]]


    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 or 84.328R), 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 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including 
suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are 
submitting your application; and
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a 
notification of receipt of your grant application. If you do not 
receive this notification 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 program are 
from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package for each 
competition announced in this notice.
    2. Peer Review: In the past, the Department has had difficulty 
finding peer reviewers for certain competitions, because so many 
individuals who are eligible to serve as peer reviewers have conflicts 
of interest. 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 
grant competitions, applications may be separated into two or more 
groups and ranked and selected for funding within specific group. This 
procedure will make it easier for the Department to find peer 
reviewers, by ensuring that greater numbers of individuals who are 
eligible to serve as reviewers for any particular group of applicants 
will not have conflicts of interest. It also will increase the quality, 
independence, and fairness of the review process while permitting panel 
members to review applications under discretionary grant competitions 
for which they also have submitted applications. However, if the 
Department decides to select an equal number of applications in each 
group for funding, 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 Notice 
(GAN). We may notify you informally, also.
    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 in this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in 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 directed by the Secretary 
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary also may require more frequent 
performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements 
on reporting, please go to http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
    4. Performance Measures: Under the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993, the Department has established a set of 
performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed 
to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and 
quality of the Training and Information for Parents of Children with 
Disabilities program. The measures focus on: The extent to which 
projects provide high-quality materials, the relevance of project 
products and services to educational and early intervention policy and 
practice, and the usefulness of products and services to improve 
educational and early intervention policy and practice.
    Grantees will be required to provide information related to these 
measures.
    Grantees also will 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:
    See chart in the Award Information section in this notice for the 
name, room number, and telephone number of the contact person for each 
competition. You can write to the contact person at the following 
address: U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2600.
    If you use a TDD, call the FRS, toll-free, at 1-800-877-8339.

VIII. Other Information

    Alternative Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document and 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, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, 
toll-free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You can 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 13, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8-5497 Filed 3-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P