[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15744-15750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6057]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services 
and Results for Children With Disabilities--State Technical Assistance 
Projects To Improve Services and Results for Children Who Are Deaf-
Blind; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 
2008

    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.326C.

DATES: Applications Available: March 25, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 24, 2008.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 23, 2008.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technical Assistance and 
Dissemination To Improve Services and Results For Children With 
Disabilities program is to promote academic achievement and to improve 
results for children with disabilities by providing technical 
assistance (TA), supporting model demonstration projects, disseminating 
useful information, and implementing activities that are supported by 
scientifically based research.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute or otherwise 
authorized in the statute (see sections 663 and 681(d) of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. 1400 et 
seq.).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2008 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards based on the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services and 
Results for Children With Disabilities--State Technical Assistance 
Projects To Improve Services and Results for Children Who Are Deaf-
Blind

Background

    Children who are deaf-blind represent one of the lowest incidence 
and most diverse groups of learners receiving early intervention, 
special education, and related services (Muller, 2006). In addition to 
having combined hearing and vision loss, 90 percent of these children 
experience concomitant physical or intellectual disabilities and may 
experience complex medical and behavioral challenges (Killoran, 2007).
    Children who are deaf-blind are often isolated and disconnected 
from people and activities in their homes, schools, and communities 
both because they cannot access visual and auditory information and 
because they are not given the individualized supports necessary to 
access this information. Without individualized supports to access 
visual and auditory information (i.e., environmental information, such 
as who is present, what is being said, and what activities are 
occurring), children who are deaf-blind are at greater risk for not 
attaining age-appropriate milestones in communication and language, 
social skills, and activities of daily living, which in turn affects 
their educational outcomes. Consequently, students who are deaf-blind 
often exit school at age 22 without viable postsecondary education, 
employment, or independent living options.
    Most State educational agencies (SEAs), Part C State lead agencies, 
and local educational agencies (LEAs) lack sufficient numbers of 
personnel with the specialized training, experience, and skills that 
are needed to provide appropriate early intervention, special 
education, and related services to children who are deaf-blind 
(Collins, 1992; Markowitz, 2001; McLetchie, 1992). The critical 
shortage of personnel to serve children who are deaf-blind can limit 
access to a free appropriate public education for these children.
    Since its inception, the Office of Special Education Programs 
(OSEP) has funded technical assistance (TA) projects and personnel 
preparation programs to build State and local capacity to serve 
children who are deaf-blind and their families. As a result of those 
projects and programs, professionals, advocates, individuals who are 
deaf-blind, and parents have collaborated to make progress in 
identifying evidence-based intervention practices for children who are 
deaf-blind, developing high-quality training materials and resources, 
and developing networks across States to share information (Killorin, 
Davies, & McNulty, 2006). However, the National Deaf-Blind Child Count 
Registry data show that eighty-five percent of school-age children 
receive their services in separate settings. More work is needed to 
ensure that early intervention, special and regular education, and 
related services personnel have adequate skills to appropriately serve 
infants and toddlers in natural environments, which may include home 
and community

[[Page 15745]]

settings, and school-age children in the least restrictive environment 
(Warner, 2007). Under this priority, the projects to be funded will 
create or strengthen collaborative partnerships among families, SEAs, 
State lead agencies, and LEAs to enhance services and improve outcomes 
for children who are deaf-blind. Projects will assist SEAs, State lead 
agencies, and LEAs in ensuring that children served under Part C of 
IDEA who are deaf-blind receive services, to the maximum extent 
appropriate, in natural environments, and children served under Part B 
of IDEA who are deaf-blind have access to, and are involved and make 
progress in, the general education curriculum in the least restrictive 
environment.

Priority:

    The purpose of this priority is to support the establishment and 
operation of State Technical Assistance Projects To Improve Services 
and Results for Children Who Are Deaf-Blind (projects). Grants are 
available to support projects in all States, the Virgin Islands, and 
the outlying areas and the Freely Associated States (FAS) of the 
Pacific Basin. Funds awarded under this priority may not be used to 
provide direct early intervention services under Part C of IDEA, or 
direct special education and related services under Part B of IDEA.
    To be considered for funding under this absolute priority, 
applicants must meet the application requirements contained in this 
priority. All projects funded under this 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 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.

    (b) A plan to implement the activities described in the Project 
Activities section 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; and
    (d) A budget for attendance at the following:
    (1) A four-day Project Directors' Conference in Washington, DC, 
during each year of the project period.
    (2) A three-day National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness Annual 
Topical Conference during each year of the project period.
    Project Activities. To meet the requirements of this priority, the 
project, at a minimum, must conduct the following activities:

Technical Assistance and Dissemination Activities

    (a) Facilitate collaborative partnerships between family members of 
children who are deaf-blind; early intervention, special and regular 
education, and related services personnel; and SEAs, LEAs, and State 
lead agencies to develop and implement individualized supports that 
improve children's outcomes and educational achievement.
    (b) Provide information and TA, including distance learning 
activities and ongoing professional development opportunities paired 
with on-site coaching, to family members of children who are deaf-blind 
and early intervention, special and regular education, and related 
services personnel working with children who are deaf-blind. 
Information and TA must focus on helping family members and early 
intervention, special and regular education, and related services 
personnel--
    (1) Identify developmental and educational milestones;
    (2) Develop age-appropriate Individualized Family Service Plans and 
standards-based Individualized Education Programs, which include 
measurable postsecondary goals for students no later than the age of 
16;
    (3) Use children's interests, preferences, and learning 
characteristics to support learning and development;
    (4) Use evidence-based practices to increase children's 
communication, language, concept development, social interactions, and 
adaptive behaviors, thereby improving early intervention and 
educational outcomes;
    (5) Use assistive and instructional technologies to maintain or 
improve children's functional and educational capabilities; and
    (6) Increase children's access to and participation in natural 
environments, which may include home and community settings, and age-
appropriate activities-based routines for those served under Part C of 
IDEA, and access to, and participation and progress in, the general 
education curriculum in the least restrictive environment for those 
served under Part B of IDEA.
    (c) Work with families, SEAs, State lead agencies, LEAs, and 
institutions of higher education (IHEs) to use information from the 
National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness and other appropriate sources to 
develop--
    (1) A shared understanding across the stakeholder groups of how to 
support children who are deaf-blind within local systems and 
communities;
    (2) A plan that addresses the professional development needs of 
personnel who serve children who are deaf-blind, including 
paraprofessionals who serve as interveners. An ``intervener'' is an 
individual who has received specialized training to assist children who 
are deaf-blind by (a) facilitating access to environmental information, 
such as who is present, what is being said, and what activities are 
occurring, (b) supporting their development and use of communication 
skills, and (c) promoting their social and emotional well-being by 
maintaining a trusting and interactive relationship (Alsop, Blaha, & 
Kloos, 2000). For further information regarding interveners see: http://www.nationaldb.org/ISSelectedTopics.php?topicCatID=10); and
    (3) Program improvement strategies for the State Performance Plans 
and Annual Performance Reports and local program and school improvement 
activities.
    (d) Work with SEAs, LEAs, State lead agencies and, as appropriate, 
IHEs to implement the professional development plan.
    (e) If the project maintains a Web site, ensure that it meets 
government or industry-recognized standards for accessibility and links 
to the Web site operated by the Technical Assistance Coordination 
Center, which OSEP intends to fund in FY 2008.

Leadership and Coordination Activities

    (a) Communicate and collaborate, on an ongoing basis, with the 
National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) and ensure that the 
project's staff is aware of NCDB's resources, products, and services 
that may be used in its training and TA activities.
    (b) Communicate and collaborate, on an ongoing basis, with OSEP-
funded projects, including Parent Training and Information Centers; the 
Postsecondary Education Programs Network; the

[[Page 15746]]

National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard Development and 
Technical Assistance Centers; Bookshare.org for Education, the Center 
for the Production and Dissemination of Educational Materials in 
Accessible Formats for Students with Visual Impairments and Other Print 
Disabilities; the Center for Implementing Technology in Education; the 
Family Center on Technology and Disability; the National Center for 
Technology Innovation; the Regional Resource Centers; the National 
Center for Leadership in Vision Impairment; and low-incidence personnel 
development projects. This collaboration could include the coordination 
of TA services, the planning and carrying out of TA meetings and 
events, and possible joint development of products.
    (c) Though product development should not be a primary function of 
this project, if the project identifies an emerging need for a product 
(e.g., print materials, DVDs, videos), submit a proposal describing the 
content and purpose of the product prior to development to the OSEP 
Project Officer.
    (d) Participate in, organize, or facilitate, as appropriate, OSEP 
communities of practice (http://www.tacommunities.org) that are aligned 
with the project's objectives as a way to support discussions and 
collaboration among key stakeholders.
    (e) Contribute, on an ongoing basis, updated information on the 
project'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.
    (f) Maintain ongoing communication with the OSEP Project Officer 
through regular phone conversations and e-mail communication.

References

Alsop, L., Blaha, R., & Kloos, E. (2000). The intervener in early 
intervention and educational settings for children and youth with 
deafblindness (Briefing Paper). Monmouth, OR: The National Technical 
Assistance Consortium for Children and Young Adults Who Are Deaf-
Blind.
Collins, M. T. (1992). Educational Services. In J.W. Reiman & P.A. 
Johnson (Eds.), Proceedings from the National Symposium on Children 
and Youth Who Are Deaf Blind (pp. 165-178). Monmouth, OR: Teaching 
Research Publications.
Killoran, J. (2007). The national deaf-blind child count: 1998-2005 
in review. Monmouth, OR: National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness. 
Retrieved December 27, 2007, from http://www.nationaldb.org/documents/products/Childcountreview0607Final.pdf.
Killorin, J., Davies, P., & McNulty, K. (August 2006). The NTAC 
Outcomes and Performance Indicators: A System for Documenting 
Outcomes for Children and Youth with Deaf-Blindness, their Families, 
and the Service Providers and Systems that Serve Them. Western 
Oregon University Monmouth, OR. Retrieved December 27, 2007, from 
http://tr.wou.edu/ntac/index.cfm?path=publications/publications_index.html.
Markowitz, J. (April 2001). Personnel to Support the Education of 
Children and Youth with Deafblindness. Alexandria, VA: Project 
Forum.
McLetchie, B.A.B. (1992) Personnel Preparation. In J.W. Reiman & 
P.A. Johnson (Eds.), Proceedings from the National Symposium on 
Children and Youth Who Are Deaf Blind (pp. 203-219). Monmouth, OR: 
Teaching Research Publications.
Muller, E. (2006, July). Deaf-blind child counts: Issues and 
challenges. Alexandria, VA: Project Forum.
Warner, R. ( 2007, February). The Real Deal. Presentation at the 
conference Deafblindness: A Real Vision, Hampton, VA.

    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 priority in this notice.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1463 and 1481.

    Applicable Regulations: 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.

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


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

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $9,500,000. Please refer to the 
``Funding Level'' column in the chart shown in the Maximum Awards 
section of this notice for the estimated dollar amounts for individual 
awards.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $30,000-$575,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $176,000.
    Maximum Awards: The following chart lists the maximum amount of 
funds for individual States for a single budget period of 12 months. A 
State may be served by only one supported project. In determining the 
maximum funding levels for each State the Secretary considered, among 
other things, the following factors:
    (1) The total number of children from birth through age 21 in the 
State.
    (2) The number of people in poverty in the State.
    (3) The previous funding levels.
    (4) The maximum and minimum funding amounts.

                                    2008 Funding Levels for CFDA No. 84.326C
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     State                       Funding level                State                Funding level
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK............................................        $106,971  ND..............................          65,000
AL............................................         185,095  NE..............................          78,471
AR............................................         118,534  NH..............................          65,807
AZ............................................         175,338  NJ..............................         268,086
CA............................................         575,000  NM..............................         100,912
CO............................................         154,079  NY..............................         575,000
CT............................................         104,751  NV..............................         112,563
DE............................................          83,362  OH..............................         259,320
FL............................................         362,027  OK..............................         131,374
GA............................................         305,978  OR..............................         121,286
HI............................................          77,491  PA..............................         371,952
IA............................................          97,054  PR..............................          65,000
ID............................................          85,303  RI..............................          79,368
IL............................................         335,444  SC..............................         154,204

[[Page 15747]]

 
IN............................................         210,093  SD..............................         101,746
KS............................................         128,122  TN..............................         238,451
KY............................................         165,145  TX..............................         575,000
LA............................................         145,840  UT..............................          92,039
MA............................................         126,661  VA..............................         234,082
MD............................................         164,366  VT..............................         114,301
ME............................................          65,000  WA..............................         195,750
MI............................................         256,289  WI..............................         173,484
MN............................................         171,335  WV..............................         125,020
MO............................................         197,129  WY..............................          65,000
MS............................................         133,605  DC..............................          65,000
MT............................................         106,123  Pacific **......................          92,000
NC............................................         313,649  VI..............................          30,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    **The areas to be served by this award are the outlying areas of 
American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands as well as the Freely Associated States of the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic 
of Palau. An applicant for this award must propose to serve all of 
these areas. We will reject an application for a State project that 
proposes a budget exceeding the funding level for any single budget 
period of 12 months. An applicant may apply for more than one State 
project award; however a separate application must be submitted for 
each State project. We will reject an application that proposes to 
serve more than one State or area specified in the chart above.
    The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in 
the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 54.

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

    Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
    1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs; LEAs, including public charter 
schools that are considered LEAs under State law; IHEs; other public 
agencies; private nonprofit organizations; outlying areas; FAS; Indian 
tribes or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: General Requirements--(a) The projects funded under this 
competition must make positive efforts to employ and advance in 
employment qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of 
IDEA).
    (b) Applicants and grant recipients funded under this competition 
must involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals 
with disabilities ages birth through 26 in planning, implementing, and 
evaluating the projects (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of IDEA).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone, toll 
free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: http://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 this program or competition as follows:

    CFDA Number 84.326C.

    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 Alternate 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 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 the application narrative 
to the equivalent of no more than 70 pages, using the following 
standards:
     A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1'' 
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
     Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
     Use a font that is either 12 point or larger, or no 
smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, the references, or the letters of support. 
The page limit, however, does apply to the application narrative in 
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: March 25, 
2008. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 24, 2008.
    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

[[Page 15748]]

process, the individual's application remains subject to all other 
requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 23, 2008.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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 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 State Technical Assistance Projects To Improve Services and Results 
for Children Who Are Deaf-Blind competition, CFDA Number 84.326C, is 
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 State 
Technical Assistance Projects To Improve Services and Results for 
Children Who Are Deaf-Blind competition at http://www.Grants.gov. You 
must search for the downloadable application package for this 
competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha 
suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.326, not 84.326C).
    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 
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 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 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

[[Page 15749]]

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 84.326C), 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 
84.326C), 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.

    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 
84.326C), 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 competition 
are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
    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 the specific groups. 
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 may also 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 (GPRA), 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 Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve 
Services and Results for Children With Disabilities program. These 
measures focus on the extent to which projects provide high quality 
products and services, the relevance of

[[Page 15750]]

project products and services to educational and early intervention 
policy and practice, and the use of products and services to improve 
educational and early intervention policy and practice.
    Grantees will be required to provide information related to these 
measures in annual reports to the Department.
    Grantees also will be required to report information on their 
project's performance in annual reports to the Department (34 CFR 
75.590).

VII. Agency Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Smith, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4066, Potomac Center Plaza 
(PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7529.
    If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service (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 19, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8-6057 Filed 3-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P