[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35673-35679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14273]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for 
Children With Disabilities--National Center To Improve the Recruitment 
and Retention of Qualified Personnel for Children With Disabilities; 
Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008

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

    DATES:
    Applications Available: June 24, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 24, 2008.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: September 22, 2008.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purposes of this program are to (1) help 
address State-identified needs for highly qualified personnel--in 
special education, related services, early intervention, and regular 
education--to work with infants, toddlers, and children with 
disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have the necessary 
skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been determined 
through scientifically based research and experience, to be successful 
in serving those children.
    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 662 and 681(d) of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)). 20 U.S.C. 1462 and 
1481(d).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2008 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from 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:
    National Center to Improve the Recruitment and Retention of 
Qualified Personnel for Children With Disabilities (84.325C).

Background

    Under Part B of IDEA, section 612(a)(14) requires States to ensure 
that special education teachers and related services personnel 
providing services are appropriately and adequately prepared and 
trained. In implementing this requirement, States must ensure that 
local educational agencies (LEAs) take measurable steps to recruit, 
hire, train, and retain highly qualified special education teachers and 
related services personnel to serve children with disabilities. 
Likewise, under Part C of IDEA, section 635(a)(8) and (9) requires 
States to maintain comprehensive systems of personnel development that 
include strategies to prepare, recruit, and retain early intervention 
service providers who are fully and appropriately qualified to provide 
early intervention services.
    States and LEAs report challenges in recruiting and retaining 
highly qualified special education teachers, which could affect their 
ability to meet the Federal personnel requirements under IDEA. 
Throughout the United States, there is a chronic and pervasive shortage 
of special education teachers and this shortage is expected to increase 
over time (McLeskey, Tyler, & Flippin, 2004). In addition, there is a 
severe shortage of special educators from culturally and linguistically 
diverse backgrounds that reflects the lack of diversity in the teacher 
population as a whole (McLeskey et al., 2004; NCES, 2003).
    Nationwide, there is a growing shortage of qualified school-based 
related services personnel, including audiologists, occupational 
therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists 
(Center on Personnel Studies in Special Education, 2004). Part C early 
intervention and Part B preschool programs also report significant 
personnel shortages across disciplines serving infants, toddlers, and 
preschoolers with disabilities and their families (Center to Inform 
Personnel Preparation Policy and Practice in Early Intervention and 
Preschool Education, 2007).
    The current personnel shortage has multiple causes, including 
increases in (a) the number of positions created to meet the growing 
population of infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities, and 
(b) the number of special education personnel moving out of direct 
service roles to other positions in the field, switching to regular 
education, or leaving the profession altogether (McLeskey et al., 
2004). Uncertified or inadequately prepared personnel, as well as 
younger and inexperienced personnel, are more likely to leave their 
positions than their certified and more experienced colleagues 
(Billingsley, 2004; McLeskey et al., 2004).
    To address these on-going challenges effectively, States must adopt 
evidence-based and comprehensive strategies to recruit new special 
education teachers, related services personnel, and early intervention 
personnel, retain the current workforce, and improve the skills of 
uncertified and inadequately prepared personnel. In 2003, the Office of 
Special Education Programs (OSEP) funded the National Center for 
Special Education Personnel and Related Services Providers (Personnel 
Center) to help States develop and implement strategies to recruit and 
retain sufficient numbers of highly or fully qualified personnel. 
(Information on the work of the Personnel Center is available at http://www.personnelcenter.org) To further enhance the capacity of States and 
LEAs to recruit and retain sufficient numbers of highly or fully 
qualified personnel, the Secretary is proposing to establish a National 
Center to Improve the Recruitment and Retention of Qualified Personnel 
for Children With Disabilities.

[[Page 35674]]

Priority

    The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to 
support the establishment and operation of a National Center to Improve 
the Recruitment and Retention of Qualified Personnel for Children With 
Disabilities (Center). This Center will identify, disseminate, and 
assist States in implementing evidence-based recruitment and retention 
practices in order to help meet States' needs for highly or fully 
qualified special education, early intervention, and related services 
personnel, including paraprofessionals (qualified personnel).
    To be considered for funding under this absolute priority, 
applicants must meet the application requirements contained in this 
priority. The project 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;
    (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 one-day 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 meeting in 
Washington, DC during each year of the project period; 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. To meet the requirements of this priority, the 
Center, at a minimum, must conduct the following activities:
Knowledge Development Activities
    (a) During the first year of the project period, examine existing 
literature reviews and conduct literature reviews to identify evidence-
based practices (e.g., mentoring programs) that have been shown to be 
effective in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel to serve 
infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. To the extent 
possible, the Center must use the standards established by the What 
Works Clearinghouse, (http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/overview/review.asp?ag=pi) in identifying evidence-based practices. The Center 
must also identify (in existing literature reviews and reviews 
conducted by the Center) current findings on innovative recruitment and 
retention strategies (e.g., peer collaboration programs) that show 
promise in the field, but for which the research base is less well 
developed.
    (b) Review available State information related to shortages in 
personnel to meet the needs of children served through Part B and Part 
C programs from sources such as IDEA State Performance Plans (SPPs), 
IDEA Annual Performance Reports (APRs), and any other relevant sources 
to gain an understanding of States' personnel needs.
Technical Assistance and Dissemination Activities
    (a) Assist a minimum of four different States during each year of 
the project period in building their capacity to recruit and retain 
early intervention service personnel for lead agencies and special 
education and related services personnel for State educational agencies 
(SEAs) and LEAs. Factors for consideration in selecting these States 
could include the demographic and geographic characteristics of each 
State, each State's recruitment and retention needs, and the previous 
initiatives focused on recruitment and retention that have taken place 
in the State. The Center must obtain approval from the OSEP Project 
Officer on the final selection of States.

    Note: To fulfill the requirements of paragraph (b) of the 
Application Requirements of this priority, applicants must describe 
the methods and criteria for recruiting and selecting States for 
this activity in their application.

    To assist these States, the Center must--
    (1) Provide technical assistance (TA) to the SEAs and Part C State 
lead agencies to increase their capacity, as appropriate, to--
    (i) Create or improve data systems that can be used to identify 
State personnel needs and disaggregate highly qualified special 
education teacher (HQT) (as defined in Sec.  300.18) data by student 
disability category (as defined in Sec.  300.8), and use those data to 
inform decision-making on recruitment and retention efforts.
    (ii) Develop and implement a plan to recruit individuals from 
communities within the State, particularly individuals from diverse 
cultural and linguistic backgrounds, to pursue careers in early 
intervention, special education, and related services and evaluate the 
effectiveness of strategies used; and
    (iii) Develop and implement a plan to support and increase the 
likelihood of retaining personnel in early intervention, special 
education, and related services positions within the State and evaluate 
the effectiveness of strategies used.
    (2) Develop and coordinate a national TA network comprised of a 
cadre of experts that the Center will use to provide TA to States to 
assist them in addressing recruitment and retention issues; and
    (3) Synthesize and analyze State personnel data and disseminate 
this information to SEAs, LEAs, and lead agencies so that they can use 
these data to predict hiring needs and work with organizations, such as 
institutions of higher education (IHEs), including community colleges, 
to recruit and train personnel in high need areas.
    (b) Conduct nationwide outreach activities to encourage 
individuals, including individuals with disabilities, individuals from 
diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and individuals who have 
changed or may change careers, to pursue careers in early intervention, 
special education, and related services. These outreach activities must 
also encourage individuals to pursue careers as paraprofessionals. In 
developing, implementing, and maintaining a

[[Page 35675]]

comprehensive and coordinated recruitment campaign, the Center must 
incorporate findings on effective recruitment strategies from its 
literature reviews and from the research conducted by the OSEP-funded 
Center on Personnel Studies in Special Education (http://www.coe.ufl.edu/copsse/) into its activities. The Center also must 
utilize a wide range of communication strategies and media outlets in 
its outreach activities.
    (c) Provide information to individuals who have expressed interest 
in pursuing a career in early intervention, special education, or 
related services. To address this requirement, the Center must--
    (1) Compile and regularly update information on ongoing and 
emerging areas of personnel need, as identified by SEAs, LEAs, lead 
agencies, and other relevant entities;
    (2) Develop and maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date, searchable, 
and easily accessible database of accredited early intervention, 
special education, and related services personnel preparation programs 
available across the country. This database must reflect the full range 
of training opportunities, including both traditional and alternative 
programs; and
    (3) Develop and maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date, searchable, 
and easily accessible database of information on available student 
financial assistance, including financial assistance provided by the 
Department, other Federal agencies, State agencies, and public and 
private sources to support training opportunities for individuals 
pursuing careers in early intervention, special education and related 
services.
    (d) Maintain a Web site that meets a government or industry-
recognized standard for accessibility and that links to the Web site 
operated by the Technical Assistance Coordination Center (TACC), which 
OSEP intends to fund in FY 2008. The Web site must contain information 
on early intervention, special education, and related services careers, 
including careers for paraprofessionals; current research on 
recruiting, developing, and retaining a diverse, qualified workforce; 
and other relevant resources on recruitment and retention.
    (e) Prepare and disseminate reports, documents, and other materials 
on trends, emerging research, and compelling issues relating to the 
recruitment and retention of early intervention, special education, and 
related services personnel, and related topics, as requested by OSEP 
for specific audiences, including SEAs, LEAs, lead agencies, and IHEs, 
including community colleges. In consultation with the OSEP Project 
Officer and the advisory committee established in accordance with 
paragraph (b) in the Leadership and Coordination Activities section of 
this priority, make selected reports, documents, and other materials 
available for SEAs, LEAs, lead agencies, and IHEs, including community 
colleges in both English and Spanish.
Leadership and Coordination Activities
    (a) Provide information to OSEP at least twice during the project 
period on the capacity of States to use their personnel data systems to 
disaggregate HQT data by student disability category.
    (b) Establish and maintain an advisory committee to review the 
activities and outcomes of the Center and provide programmatic support 
and advice throughout the project period. At a minimum, the advisory 
committee must meet on an annual basis in Washington, DC, and consist 
of SEA, LEA, lead agency, IHE, and community college representatives, 
and a parent of an infant, toddler, or child with a disability. The 
Center must submit the names of proposed members of the advisory 
committee to OSEP for approval within eight weeks after receipt of the 
award.
    (c) Communicate and collaborate, on an ongoing basis, with OSEP-
funded projects, including the National Comprehensive Center on Teacher 
Quality, the Center for Improving Teacher Quality, the National Center 
to Inform Policy and Practice in Special Education Professional 
Development, the National Outreach and Technical Assistance Center on 
Discretionary Awards for Minority Institutions, CONNECT: The Center to 
Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge, the National Professional 
Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, the Parent Information 
Centers, the Regional Resource Centers, and the Center on the Statewide 
Improvement of Teacher Preparation Programs, which OSEP intends to fund 
in FY 2008. This collaboration could include the joint development of 
products, the coordination of TA services, and planning and 
implementing TA meetings and events.
    (d) 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.
    (e) 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 TACC for approval, a proposal describing the 
content and purpose of the product.
    (f) 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.
    (g) 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.
    (h) Conduct a summative evaluation of the Center in collaboration 
with the OSEP-funded Center to Improve Project Performance (CIPP) as 
described in the following paragraphs. This summative evaluation must 
examine the outcomes or impact of the Center's activities in order to 
assess the effectiveness of those activities in improving the 
recruitment and retention of qualified personnel for children with 
disabilities.

    Note: 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 Center must--
    (1) Hire or designate, with the approval of the OSEP Project 
Officer, a project liaison staff person with sufficient dedicated time, 
evaluation experience and knowledge of the Center to work with CIPP on 
the following tasks: (i) Planning for the Center'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 Center's

[[Page 35676]]

activities, (iv) collecting summative data, and SE (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 $30,000 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, implementing the Center's formative 
evaluation, and traveling to Washington, DC in the second year of the 
project period for the Center's review for continued funding.
    (i) Maintain ongoing communication with the OSEP Project Officer 
through monthly phone conversations and e-mail communication.

Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project

    In deciding whether to continue funding the Center 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;
    (b) The timeliness and effectiveness with which all requirements of 
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the 
Center; and
    (c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the Center's 
activities and products and the degree to which the Center's activities 
and products have contributed to changed practice and improved 
recruitment and retention of personnel for children with disabilities.

References

Billingsley, B. (2004). Special education teacher retention and 
attrition: A critical analysis of the research literature. The Journal 
of Special Education, 38(1), 39-55.
Center to Inform Personnel Preparation Policy and Practice in Early 
Intervention and Preschool Education. (2007, October). At a Glance * * 
* (Volume 1, Nos. 1 & 2). Retrieved January 21, 2008 from http://www.uconnucedd.org/per_prep_center/PDFs/at%20a%20glance%20finals/At%20a%20Glance%20Vol.%207,%20No.%1201%2010.25.07.pdf.
Center on Personnel Studies in Special Education. (2004, February.) An 
insufficient supply and a growing demand for qualified related service 
personnel. Special Education Workforce Watch: Insights from Research. 
Retrieved January 21, 2008 from http://www.coe.ufl.edu/copsse/docs/PB-21/1/PB-21.pdf.
McLeskey, J., Tyler, N., & Flippin, S.S. (2004). The supply and demand 
for special education teachers: A review of research regarding the 
chronic shortage of special education teachers. The Journal of Special 
Education, 38(1), 5-21.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2003). Assessment of 
Diversity in America's Teaching Force: A Call to Action. Retrieved 
January 21, 2008 from http://www.nea.org/teacherquality/images/diversityreport.pdf.

    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. 1462 and 1481.

    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 
81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
    (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 304.

    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: Cooperative agreement.
    Estimated Available Funds: $500,000.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $500,000.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $500,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The 
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services 
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal 
Register.
    Number of Awards: 1.

    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; public charter schools that are 
LEAs under State law; IHEs; other public agencies (including lead 
agencies under Part C of IDEA); private nonprofit organizations; 
outlying areas; freely associated States; and Indian tribes or tribal 
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 competition as follows: CFDA Number 84.325C.
    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 this competition.
    Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) 
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that 
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to 
the equivalent of no more than 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.

[[Page 35677]]

     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 two-page abstract, the 
resumes, the bibliography, the references, or the letters of support. 
The page limit, however, does apply to the application narrative (Part 
III).
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit; or if 
you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: June 24, 2008.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 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 process, the individual's application remains subject to 
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 24, 2008.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section 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 National Center to Improve the Recruitment and Retention of 
Qualified Personnel for Children With Disabilities competition, CFDA 
Number 84.325C, 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 National 
Center to Improve the Recruitment and Retention of Qualified Personnel 
for Children With Disabilities competition at http://www.Grants.gov. 
You must search for the downloadable application package for this 
program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha 
suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.325, not 84.325C).
    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 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if 
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov 
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply 
with the deadline requirements. 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 
4:30:00 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 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)

[[Page 35678]]

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 4:30:00 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 4:30:00 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 4:30:00 
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 84.325C), 
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 
84.325C), 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 
84.325C), 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 4:30:00 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.
    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 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.

[[Page 35679]]

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 (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 activities 
currently being supported under Part D of IDEA. These measures, which 
will be used for the competition announced in this notice, focus on: 
The percentage of products and services deemed to be of high quality by 
an independent review panel of qualified experts or individuals with 
appropriate expertise to review the substantive content of the products 
and services; the percentage of products and services deemed to be of 
high relevance to educational and early intervention policy or practice 
by an independent review panel of qualified members of the target 
audiences of the technical assistance and disseminations; and the 
percentage of all products and services deemed to be of high usefulness 
by target audiences to improve educational or early intervention policy 
or practice.
    Grantees may be asked to participate in assessing and providing 
information on these aspects of program quality.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Maryann McDermott, U.S. Department 
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4153, Potomac Center Plaza 
(PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7439.
    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: June 18, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
 [FR Doc. E8-14273 Filed 6-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P