[Federal Register: March 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 54)]
[Notices]
[Page 14781-14789]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19mr08-45]
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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
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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: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
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