Special EducationPersonnel Preparation to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities; and Special Education Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities

SUMMARY: On June 4, 1997, the President signed into law Public Law 105-

17, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997,

amending the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

This notice provides closing dates and other information regarding

the transmittal of applications for fiscal year 1999 competitions under

two programs authorized by IDEA, as amended. The two programs are: (1)

Special Education--Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and

Results for Children with Disabilities (five priorities); and (2)

Special Education-- Technology and Media Services for Individuals with

Disabilities (one priority).

This notice supports the National Education Goals by helping to

improve results for children with disabilities.

Waiver of Rulemaking

It is generally the practice of the Secretary to offer interested

parties the opportunity to comment on proposed priorities. However,

section 661(e)(2) of IDEA makes the Administrative Procedure Act (5

U.S.C. 553) inapplicable to the priorities in this notice. In order to

make awards on a timely basis, the Secretary has decided to publish

these priorities in final under the authority of section 661(e)(2).

General Requirements

(a) Projects funded under this notice must make positive efforts to

employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with

disabilities in project activities (see Section 606 of IDEA);

(b) Applicants and grant recipients funded under this notice must

involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals with

disabilities in planning, implementing, and evaluating the projects

(see Section 661(f)(1)(A) of IDEA);

(c) Projects funded under these priorities must budget for a two-

day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, D.C. during each year of

the project; and

(d) In a single application, an applicant is required to address

only one absolute priority in this notice.

Note: The Department of Education is not bound by any estimates

in this notice.

Special Education--Personnel Preparation To Improve Services and

Results for Children With Disabilities [CFDA 84.325]

Purpose of Program

The purposes of this program are to: (1) Help address State-

identified needs for qualified personnel in special education, related

services, early intervention, and regular education, to work with

children with disabilities; and (2) to ensure that those personnel have

the skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been

determined through research and experience to be successful, that are

needed to serve those children.

Eligible Applicants

Institutions of higher education are eligible applicants for

Absolute Priorities 1-4 under this program. Eligible applicants for

Absolute Priority 5, Projects of National Significance, are: State and

local educational agencies; institutions of higher education; other

public agencies; private nonprofit organizations; outlying areas;

freely associated States; and Indian tribes or tribal organizations.

Applicable Regulations

(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations

(EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86; (b) The

selection criteria for Absolute Priorities 1-4 will be drawn from the

EDGAR menu--TRAINING program area; and (c) The selection criteria for

Absolute Priority 5 will be drawn from the EDGAR menu--MODEL

DEMONSTRATION AND PROJECTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE program area.

Information collection resulting from this notice has been submitted to

OMB for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act and has been approved

under control number 1820-0028, expiration date July 31, 2000.

General Requirement For All Personnel Preparation Program Priorities

Student financial assistance is authorized only for the preservice

preparation of special education, related services, early intervention,

and leadership personnel to serve children ages 3 through 21, and early

intervention personnel who serve infants and toddlers.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of

higher education only.

Priority: Under section 673 of the Act and 34 CFR 75.105 (c)(3),

the Secretary gives an absolute preference to applications that meet

one of the following priorities. The Secretary funds under this

competition only those applications that meet these absolute

priorities:

Absolute Priority 1--Preparation of Special Education, Related

Services, and Early Intervention Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers,

and Children with Low-Incidence Disabilities (84.325A).

Background: The national demand for educational, related services,

and early intervention personnel to serve infants, toddlers, and

children with low-incidence disabilities exceeds available supply.

However, because of the small number of these personnel needed in each

State, institutions of higher education and individual States are

reluctant to support the needed professional development programs. Of

the programs that are available, not all are producing graduates with

the prerequisite skills needed to meet the needs of the low-incidence

disability population. Federal support is required to ensure an

adequate supply of personnel to serve children with low-incidence

disabilities and to improve the quality of appropriate training

programs so that graduates possess necessary prerequisite skills.

Priority: The Secretary establishes an absolute priority to support

projects that increase the number and quality of personnel to serve

children with low-incidence disabilities. This priority supports

projects that provide preservice preparation of special educators,

early intervention personnel, and related services personnel at the

associate, baccalaureate, master's, or specialist level.

A preservice program is defined as one that leads toward a degree,

certification, or professional licence or standard, and may be

supported at the associate, baccalaureate, master's or specialist

level. A preservice program may include the preparation of currently

employed personnel who are seeking additional degrees, certifications,

endorsements, or licences.

The term ``low-incidence disability'' means a visual or hearing

impairment, or simultaneous visual and hearing impairments, a

significant cognitive impairment, or any impairment for which a small

number of personnel with highly specialized skills and knowledge are

needed in order for children with that impairment to receive early

intervention services or a free appropriate public education.

[[Page 50115]]

Applicants may propose to prepare one or more of the following

types of personnel:

(1) Special educators including early childhood, speech and

language, adapted physical education, and assistive technology

personnel;

(2) Related services personnel who provide developmental,

corrective, and other support services that assist children with low-

incidence disabilities to benefit from special education. Both

comprehensive programs, and specialty components within a broader

discipline, that prepare personnel for work with the low-incidence

population may be supported; or,

(3) Early intervention personnel who serve children birth through

age 2 with low-incidence disabilities and their families. For the

purpose of this priority, all children who require early intervention

services are considered low-incidence. Early intervention personnel

include persons who train, or serve as consultants to, service

providers and case managers.

The Secretary particularly encourages projects that address the

needs of more than one State, provide multi-disciplinary training, and

include collaboration among several institutions and between training

institutions and public schools. In addition, projects that foster

successful coordination between special education and regular education

professional development programs to meet the needs of children with

low-incidence disabilities in inclusive settings are encouraged.

Each project funded under this absolute priority must--

(a) Prepare personnel to address the specialized needs of children

with low-incidence disabilities from different cultural and language

backgrounds;

(b) Incorporate best practices in the design of the program and the

curricula;

(c) Incorporate curricula that focus on improving results for

children with low-incidence disabilities;

(d) Promote high expectations for students with low-incidence

disabilities and foster access to the general curriculum in the regular

classroom, wherever appropriate; and

(e) Develop linkages with Education Department technical assistance

providers to communicate information on program models used and program

effectiveness; and

(f) If the project prepares personnel to provide services to

visually impaired or blind children that can be appropriately provided

in Braille, prepare those individuals to provide those services in

Braille;

To be considered for an award, an applicant must satisfy the

following requirements contained in Section 673(f)-(h) of the Act--

(a) Demonstrate, with letters from one or more States that the

project proposes to serve, that States need personnel in the area or

areas in which the applicant proposes to provide preparation, as

identified in the States' comprehensive systems of personnel

development (CSPD) under Parts B and C of the Act;

(b) Demonstrate that it has engaged in a cooperative effort with

one or more State educational agencies or, if appropriate, lead

agencies for providing early intervention services, to plan, carry out,

and monitor the project;

(c) Provide letters from one or more States stating that they

intend to accept successful completion of the proposed personnel

preparation program as meeting State personnel standards for serving

children with disabilities or serving infants and toddlers with

disabilities;

(d) Meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the

preparation of special education, related services, or early

intervention personnel; and

(e) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under

the proposed project will subsequently provide, special education and

related services to children with disabilities, or early intervention

services to infants and toddlers with disabilities, for a period of two

years for every year for which assistance was received or repay all or

part of the cost of that assistance. Applicants must describe how they

will notify scholarship recipients of this work or repay requirement,

which is specified under section 673(h)(1) of the Act (20 U.S.C.

1473(h)(1)). The requirement must be implemented consistently with

section 673(h)(1) of the Act and with applicable regulations in effect

prior to the awarding of grants under this priority.

Under this absolute priority, the Secretary plans to award

approximately:

50 percent of the available funds for projects that

support careers in special education, including early childhood

educators;

15 percent of the available funds for projects that

support careers in educational interpreter services for hearing

impaired individuals;

20 percent of the available funds for projects that

support careers in related services, other than educational interpreter

services; and

15 percent of the available funds for projects that

support careers in early intervention.

Competitive priority: Within this absolute priority, the Secretary

under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii), and Section 673(g)(3)(B) of the Act will

give preference to applications from an institution of higher education

that is successfully recruiting and preparing individuals with

disabilities and individuals from groups that are underrepresented in

the profession for which they are preparing individuals over an

application of comparable merit that does not meet the priority.

Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an

application that proposes a budget exceeding $300,000 for any single

budget period of 12 months. However, because of budgetary

considerations contingent upon congressional action, the Secretary may

change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal

Register.

Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application

narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that

are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must

limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced

pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x

11'' (on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides).

(2) 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, must be double-spaced (no more

than 3 lines per vertical inch). If using a proportional computer font,

use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an average character density

no greater than 18 characters per inch. If using a nonproportional font

or a typewriter, do not use more than 12 characters to the inch.

The page limit does not apply to Part I--the cover sheet; Part II--

the budget section (including the narrative budget justification); Part

IV--the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract,

resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the

application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application

narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make

the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application

will not be considered for funding.

Absolute Priority 2--Preparation of Leadership Personnel (84.325D)

This priority supports projects that conducts leadership personnel

activities such as: (a) preparing personnel at the advanced graduate,

doctoral, and postdoctoral levels of training to administer, enhance,

or provide services for children with disabilities; and (b) providing

interdisciplinary training for various types of leadership personnel,

[[Page 50116]]

including teacher preparation faculty, administrators, researchers,

supervisors, principals, and other persons whose work affects early

intervention, educational, and transitional services for children with

disabilities.

To be considered for an award, an applicant must satisfy the

following requirements contained in Section 673(f)-(h) of the Act--

(a) Demonstrate, with letters from one or more States that the

project proposes to serve, that States need personnel in the area or

areas in which the applicant proposes to provide preparation, as

identified in the States' comprehensive systems of personnel

development under Parts B and C of the Act;

(b) Demonstrate that it has engaged in a cooperative effort with

one or more State educational agencies or, if appropriate, lead

agencies for providing early intervention services, to plan, carry out,

and monitor the project;

(c) Meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the

preparation of leadership personnel in special education, related

services or early intervention fields, if the purpose of the project is

to assist personnel in obtaining degrees; and

(d) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under

the proposed project will subsequently perform work related to their

preparation for a period of two years for every year for which

assistance was received or repay all or part of the cost of that

assistance. Applicants must describe how they will notify scholarship

recipients of this work or repay requirement, which is specified under

section 673(h)(2) of the Act (20 U.S.C. 1473(h)(2)). The requirement

must be implemented consistently with section 673(h)(2) of the Act and

with applicable regulations in effect prior to the awarding of grants

under this priority.

The Secretary intends to make approximately seven awards to

projects that prepare students for careers in administration in which

they provide leadership in addressing the needs of children with

disabilities.

Invitational priorities: Within Absolute Priority 2, the Secretary

is particularly interested in applications that meet one or more of the

following invitational priorities. However, pursuant to 34 CFR

75.105(c)(1), an application that meets one or more of these

invitational priorities does not receive competitive or absolute

preference over other applications:

(a) Projects designed to foster successful coordination among

administrators, special education and regular education teachers,

related services personnel, infant intervention specialists, and

parents.

(b) Projects that coordinate professional development programs for

regular and special education leadership personnel.

(c) Projects that include recruitment of leadership personnel from

groups that are underrepresented, including individuals with

disabilities.

Project Period: Up to 48 months.

Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an

application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 for any single

budget period of 12 months. However, because of budgetary

considerations contingent upon congressional action, the Secretary may

change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal

Register.

Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application

narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that

are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must

limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced

pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x 11''

(on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides). (2)

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, must be double-spaced (no more

than 3 lines per vertical inch). If using a proportional computer font,

use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an average character density

no greater than 18 characters per inch. If using a nonproportional font

or a typewriter, do not use more than 12 characters to the inch.

The page limit does not apply to Part I--the cover sheet; Part II--

the budget section (including the narrative budget justification); Part

IV--the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract,

resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the

application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application

narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make

the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application

will not be considered for funding.

Absolute Priority 3--Preparation of Personnel in Minority Institutions

(84.325E).

This priority supports awards to institutions of higher education

with minority student enrollments of at least 25 percent, including

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, for the purpose of

preparing personnel to work with children with disabilities. Awards

must be made consistent with the objectives in section 673(a) of the

Act.

To be considered for an award, an applicant must satisfy the

following requirements contained in Section 673(f)-(h) of the Act--

(a) Demonstrate, with letters from one or more States that the

project proposes to serve, that States need personnel in the area or

areas in which the applicant proposes to provide preparation, as

identified in the States' comprehensive system of personnel development

under Parts B and C of the Act.

(b) Demonstrate that it has engaged in a cooperative effort with

one or more State educational agencies or, if appropriate, lead

agencies for providing early intervention services, to plan, carry out,

and monitor the project;

(c) Provide letters from one or more States stating that they

intend to accept successful completion of the proposed personnel

preparation program as meeting State personnel standards for serving

children with disabilities or serving infants and toddlers with

disabilities;

(d) Meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the

preparation of special education, related services, or early

intervention personnel, if the purpose of the project is to assist

personnel in obtaining degrees; and

(e) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under

the proposed project will subsequently provide special education and

related services to children with disabilities, or early intervention

services for infants and toddlers, for a period of two years for every

year for which assistance was received or repay all or part of the cost

of that assistance. Applicants must describe how they will notify

scholarship recipients of this work or repay requirement, which is

specified under section 673(h)(1) of the Act (20 U.S.C. 1473(h)(1)).

The requirement must be implemented consistently with section 673(h)(1)

of the Act and with applicable regulations in effect prior to the

awarding of grants under this priority.

Competitive preference: Within this absolute priority, the

Secretary under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2), will give a competitive preference

to applicant institutions that are otherwise eligible for funding under

this priority, and which have not received an FY 1998 or FY 1999 award

under the IDEA personnel preparation program.

Applicants who fulfill the requirements of the competitive

preference will be awarded a total of 20 points in addition to those

awarded under the published selection criteria for this priority. That

is, an applicant

[[Page 50117]]

meeting the competitive preference could earn a maximum total of 120

points.

Project Period: Up to 48 months.

Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an

application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 for any single

budget period of 12 months. However, because of budgetary

considerations contingent upon congressional action, the Secretary may

change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal

Register.

Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application

narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that

are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must

limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced

pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x 11''

(on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides). (2)

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, must be double-spaced (no more

than 3 lines per vertical inch). If using a proportional computer font,

use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an average character density

no greater than 18 characters per inch. If using a nonproportional font

or a typewriter, do not use more than 12 characters to the inch.

The page limit does not apply to Part I--the cover sheet; Part II--

the budget section (including the narrative budget justification); Part

IV--the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract,

resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the

application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application

narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make

the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application

will not be considered for funding.

Absolute Priority 4--Improving the Preparation of Personnel to Serve

Children with High-Incidence Disabilities (84.325H)

Background: State agencies, university training programs, local

schools, and other community-based agencies and organizations confirm

both the importance and the challenge of improving training programs

for personnel to serve children with high-incidence disabilities and of

meeting the staffing needs of localities experiencing chronic shortages

of these personnel.

This priority is intended to improve personnel preparation programs

throughout the Nation and help meet shortages in particular areas. The

project requirements, in conjunction with the identified competitive

priorities, also reflect a number of important factors that are common

to effective personnel preparation programs. These factors are:

(a) Collaboration among governmental, educational and community-

based organizations on the Federal, State, and local levels in meeting

personnel needs;

(b) Field-based training opportunities for students to use acquired

knowledge and skills in schools reflecting wide contextual and student

diversity, including high poverty schools;

(c) Multi-disciplinary training of teachers, including regular and

special education teachers, and related services personnel;

(d) Coordinating personnel preparation programs aimed at addressing

chronic personnel shortages with State practices for addressing such

needs;

(e) Addressing shortages of teachers in particular geographic and

content areas;

(f) Integration of research based curriculum and pedagogical

knowledge and practices; and

(g) Meeting the needs of trainees, and of children with

disabilities, from diverse backgrounds.

Priority: Consistent with section 673(e) of the Act, the purpose of

this priority is to develop or improve, and implement, programs that

provide preservice preparation for special and regular education

teachers and related services personnel in order to meet the diverse

needs of children with high incidence disabilities and to enhance the

supply of well-trained personnel to serve these children in areas of

chronic shortage. The term ``high-incidence disabilities'' includes

disabilities such as mild or moderate mental retardation, speech or

language impairments, emotional disturbance, or specific learning

disability. Training of para-professionals to serve children with high-

incidence disabilities is authorized under this priority. (Training of

early intervention personnel is addressed under the preparation of

personnel to serve children with low-incidence disabilities, and

therefore, is not included as part of this priority).

A preservice program is defined as one that leads toward a degree,

certification, or professional licence or standard, and may be

supported at the associate, baccalaureate, master's or specialist

level. A preservice program may include the preparation of currently

employed personnel who are seeking additional degrees, certifications,

endorsements, or licences.

Projects funded under this priority must --

(a) Develop or improve, and implement, partnerships that are

mutually beneficial to grantees and LEAs in order to promote continuous

improvement of preparation programs;

(b) Use research-based curriculum and pedagogy to prepare personnel

able to assist students with disabilities in achieving under the

general education curricula and able to improve student outcomes;

(c) Develop or improve, and implement, strategies for instructing

students on how special education, related services, and regular

education personnel can collaborate to improve results for children

with disabilities; and

(d) Include field-based training opportunities for students in

schools reflecting wide contextual and student diversity, including

high poverty schools.

An applicant must satisfy the following requirements contained in

Section 673(f)-(h) of the Act:

(a) Demonstrate, with letters from one or more States that the

project proposes to serve, that States need personnel in the area or

areas in which the applicant proposes to provide preparation, as

identified in the States' comprehensive systems of personnel

development (CSPD) under Part B of the Act;

(b) Demonstrate that it has engaged in a cooperative effort with

one or more State educational agencies to plan, carry out, and monitor

the project;

(c) Provide letters from one or more States stating that they

intend to accept successful completion of the proposed personnel

preparation program as meeting State personnel standards for serving

children with disabilities;

(d) Meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the

preparation of special education and related services personnel; and

(e) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under

the proposed project will subsequently provide special education and

related services to children with disabilities, for a period of two

years for every year for which assistance was received or repay all or

part of the cost of that assistance. Applicants must describe how they

will notify scholarship recipients of this work or repay requirement,

which is specified under section 673(h)(1) of the Act (20 U.S.C.

1473(h)(1)). The requirement must be implemented consistently with

section 673(h)(1) of the Act and with applicable regulations in effect

prior to the awarding of grants under this priority.

[[Page 50118]]

Competitive preferences: Within this absolute priority the

Secretary under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2), will give a competitive preference

to applications that are otherwise eligible for funding under this

priority, and that meet the following competitive preferences:

(a) Up to ten (10) points based on the extent to which an

application includes effective strategies for recruiting students from

underrepresented populations, including students with disabilities.

(b) Up to ten (10) points based on the extent to which an

application demonstrates that the majority of the graduates of its

program consistently enter jobs in which they serve children with

disabilities in high poverty rural or inner city areas.

Under the competitive preferences applicants can be awarded up to a

total of 20 points in addition to those awarded under the published

selection criteria for this priority. That is, an applicant meeting

both of these competitive preferences could earn a maximum total of 120

points.

Project Period: The maximum funding period for awards is 36 months.

Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an

application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 in Federal

funding for any single budget period of twelve months.

Page Limit Requirements: Part III of the application, the

application narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection

criteria that are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An

applicant must limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40

double-spaced pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is

8\1/2\'' x 11'' (on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom,

and sides). (2) 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, must be

double-spaced (no more than 3 lines per vertical inch). If using a

proportional computer font, use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an

average character density no greater than 18 characters per inch. If

using a nonproportional font or a typewriter, do not use more than 12

characters to the inch.

The page limit does not apply to Part I--the cover sheet; Part II--

the budget section (including the narrative budget justification); Part

IV--the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract,

resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the

application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application

narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make

the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application

will not be considered for funding.

Absolute Priority 5--Projects of National Significance (84.325N)

The Secretary establishes an absolute priority to support projects

that address issues of national significance and have broad

applicability. Projects supported under this priority must develop,

implement, and evaluate innovative models that will serve as blueprints

for improving the recruitment, preparation, retention and ongoing

development of early intervention personnel, general and special

education teachers, administrators, related service personnel, and

paraprofessionals who have responsibility for ensuring that children

with disabilities achieve to high standards and become independent,

productive citizens.

Priority: A project of national significance must:

(a) Include a detailed description of a personnel preparation

model, including descriptions of: the population(s) that the model is

designed to serve; the content and expected outcomes of the model; the

processes for, and costs involved with, implementation and ongoing

evaluation; and the organizational and contextual factors that may

either facilitate or impede implementation of the model. The model must

--

(1) Be guided by a conceptual framework that integrates all

proposed model components; and

(2) Incorporate relevant, research-based curricular content and

pedagogical practice;

(b) Provide substantial evidence that the proposed model will serve

a broad-based need;

(c) Establish an advisory panel of relevant stakeholders and

potential users to provide guidance that will help to assure that the

model developed has broad applicability;

(d) Conduct ongoing formative evaluations of project activities,

and a final evaluation to assess the success of the model in enhancing

the skills, knowledge, and practices of professional personnel that

will lead to improved results for children with disabilities;

(e) Produce a model ``blueprint'' or case study that would permit

others to replicate the model and includes comprehensive information

related to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this priority, and comprehensive

outcomes of the final evaluation required under paragraph (d) of this

priority; and

(f) In addition to the annual two day Project Directors' meeting in

Washington, D.C. mentioned in the General Requirements section of this

notice, budget for another annual two-day trip to Washington, D.C. to

collaborate with the Federal project officer and other projects funded

under this priority by sharing information and discussing model

development, implementation, evaluation and dissemination issues,

including the carrying out of cross-project dissemination activities.

To be considered for an award, an applicant must satisfy the

following requirements contained in Section 673(f)-(h) of the Act--

(a) Demonstrate that it has engaged in a cooperative effort with

one or more State educational agencies or, if appropriate, lead

agencies for providing early intervention services to plan, carry out,

and monitor the project; and

(b) Meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the

preparation of special education, related services, or early

intervention personnel, if the purpose of the project is to assist

personnel in obtaining degrees; and

(c) Ensure that individuals who receive financial assistance under

the proposed project will subsequently provide special education and

related services to children with disabilities, or early intervention

services for infants and toddlers, for a period of two years for every

year for which assistance was received or repay all or part of the cost

of that assistance. Applicants must describe how they will notify

scholarship recipients of this work or repay requirement, which is

specified under section 673(h)(1) of the Act (20 U.S.C. 1473(h)(1)).

The requirement must be implemented consistently with section 673(h)(1)

of the Act and with applicable regulations in effect prior to the

awarding of grants under this priority.

Invitational Priorities: Within this absolute priority, the

Secretary is particularly interested in applications that meet one of

the following invitational priorities. However, under 34 CFR

75.105(c)(1) an application that meets one or more of these

invitational priorities does not receive competitive or absolute

preference over other applications:

(a) Projects that improve the ability of school principals and

other local educational agency administrators to provide leadership in

meeting the needs of children with disabilities through:

(1) Model preservice programs for the training and certification of

school administrators (including principals and other instructional

leaders) that

[[Page 50119]]

incorporate relevant special education content and provide for trainees

to apply special education knowledge in field-based practice

opportunities.

(2) Model projects that provide ongoing training for practicing

school principals, LEA administrators, local school board members, and

other local decision makers in order to improve the ability of such

individuals to make informed instructional and policy-related decisions

regarding the provision of appropriate, beneficial services and

supports for children with disabilities.

(b) Projects that improve the training of paraprofessionals to meet

the needs of children, K through age 21, with high- or low-incidence

disabilities, in general education classrooms through:

(1) Model preservice programs for the training and certification of

paraprofessionals that incorporate relevant special and regular

education content and provide opportunities for trainees to apply their

knowledge and skills in field-based practice.

(2) Model inservice programs for current paraprofessionals to

improve their knowledge, skills, and practices.

(3) Model pre- or inservice programs that incorporate content for

teachers to supervise and work more effectively with paraprofessionals.

Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an

application that proposes a budget exceeding $200,000 for any single

budget period of 12 months. The Secretary may change the maximum amount

through a notice published in the Federal Register.

Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application

narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that

are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must

limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced

pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x 11''

(on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides). (2)

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, must be double-spaced (no more

than 3 lines per vertical inch). If using a proportional computer font,

use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an average character density

no greater than 18 characters per inch. If using a nonproportional font

or a typewriter, do not use more than 12 characters to the inch.

The page limit does not apply to Part I--the cover sheet; Part II--

the budget section (including the narrative budget justification); Part

IV--the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract,

resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the

application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application

narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make

the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application

will not be considered for funding.

Special Education--Technology and Media Services for Individuals with

Disabilities [CFDA No. 84.327]

Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to promote the

development, demonstration, and utilization of technology and to

support educational media activities designed to be of educational

value to children with disabilities. This program also provides support

for some captioning, video description, and cultural activities.

Eligible Applicants: State and local educational agencies;

institutions of higher education; other public agencies; private

nonprofit organizations; outlying areas; freely associated States;

Indian tribes or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,

81, 82, 85, and 86; and (b) The selection criteria for the Closed

Captioned Television Programs will be drawn from the EDGAR menu--DIRECT

SERVICES program area.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of

higher education only.

Priority: Under section 687 of the Act and 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), the

Secretary gives an absolute preference to applications that meet the

following priority. The Secretary funds under this competition only

those applications that meet this absolute priority:

Absolute Priority--Closed Captioned Television Programs (84.327U)

Background: This priority supports cooperative agreements to

provide closed captioning of television programs in a variety of areas:

(1) national news and public information programs; (2) children's

programs; and (3) syndicated television programs.

National News and Public Information. This activity will continue

and expand closed captioned national news, public information programs,

and emergency programming, so that persons with hearing impairments can

have access to up-to-date national morning, evening, and weekend news,

as well as information concerning current events and other significant

public information, including, emergency programming. Funds provided

under this category may be used to support no more than 50 percent of

the captioning costs.

Children's Programs. This activity will provide closed captioning

of children's programs shown on national commercial and public

broadcast networks, as well as syndicated and basic cable programs

shown nationally, so that children who are deaf or hard of hearing will

have access to popular children's programs. In making awards the

Secretary will consider the extent to which children's programs on each

major national commercial and public broadcast network, syndicated

children's programs, and basic cable children's programs continue to be

captioned.

Syndicated Television Programming. This activity will provide for

closed captioning of syndicated television programs, thereby making a

variety of programs available at different times, depending on local

distribution. Syndicated programming will be limited to off-network or

evergreen programming (popular previously-broadcast programs or

series). In making awards the Secretary considers the anticipated

shelf-life and the range of distribution of the captioned programs

possible without further costs to the project beyond the initial

captioning costs.

Priority: Under this competition, the Secretary intends to make one

or more awards in each of the four areas of activity identified above.

Each application may address only one of the areas of activity.

Projects must--

(a) Include procedures and criteria for selecting programs for

captioning that take into account the preference of consumers for

particular programs, the diversity of programming available, and the

contribution of programs to the general educational, and cultural

experiences of individuals with hearing impairments;

(b) Provide a flexible plan to assure closed captioning of

television programs without interruption, while accommodating last-

minute program substitutions and new programs;

(c) Identify the total number of hours and the projected cost per

hour for each of the programs to be captioned;

(d) Identify for each proposed program to be captioned the source

of private or other public support and the projected dollar amount of

that support;

(e) Identify the methods of captioning to be used for each

program--indicating

[[Page 50120]]

whether captioning is provided in real-time, live display, offline, or

reformatted--and the projected cost per hour for each method used;

(f) Provide and maintain back-up systems that will ensure

successful, timely captioning service, despite national or regional

emergency situations;

(g) Demonstrate the willingness of each major network or providers

of syndicated programs included in the project to permit captioning of

their programs;

(h) Implement procedures for monitoring the extent to which full

and accurate captioning is provided and use this information to make

refinements in captioning operations; and

(i) Identify the anticipated shelf-life, and the range of

distribution of syndicated programs captioned without further costs to

the project beyond the initial captioning costs.

Captions produced under these awards may be reformatted or

otherwise adapted by owners or rights holders of programming, including

networks and syndicators, for future airings or other distributions.

Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Maximum award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an

application that proposes a budget exceeding $500,000 for National News

and Public Information; $250,000 for Children's Programs; and $350,000

for Syndicated Television Programming, for any single budget period of

12 months. The Secretary rejects and does not consider an application

that proposes a budget exceeding these maximum amounts. The Secretary

may change the maximum amounts through a notice published in the

Federal Register.

Page Limits: Part III of the application, the application

narrative, is where an applicant addresses the selection criteria that

are used by reviewers in evaluating the application. An applicant must

limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 40 double-spaced

pages, using the following standards: (1) A ``page'' is 8\1/2\'' x 11''

(on one side only) with one-inch margins (top, bottom, and sides). (2)

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, must be double-spaced (no more

than 3 lines per vertical inch). If using a proportional computer font,

use no smaller than a 12-point font, and an average character density

no greater than 18 characters per inch. If using a nonproportional font

or a typewriter, do not use more than 12 characters to the inch.

The page limit does not apply to Part I--the cover sheet; Part II--

the budget section (including the narrative budget justification); Part

IV--the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract,

resumes, bibliography, and letters of support. However, all of the

application narrative must be included in Part III. If an application

narrative uses a smaller print size, spacing, or margin that would make

the narrative exceed the equivalent of the page limit, the application

will not be considered for funding.

For Applications and General information contact: Requests for

applications and general information should be addressed to the Grants

and Contracts Services Team, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., room 3317,

Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202-2641. The preferred method for

requesting information is to FAX your request to: (202) 205-8717.

Telephone: (202) 260-9182.

Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD)

may call the TDD number: (202) 205-8953.

Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of this notice or

the application packages referred to in this notice in an alternate

format (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by

contacting the Department as listed above. However, the Department is

not able to reproduce in an alternate format the standard forms

included in the application package.

Intergovernmental Review

All programs in this notice are subject to the requirements of

Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. The

objective of the Executive order is to foster an inter-governmental

partnership and a strengthened federalism by relying on processes

developed by State and local governments for coordination and review of

proposed Federal financial assistance.

In accordance with the order, this document is intended to provide

early notification of the Department's specific plans and actions for

those programs.

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Application Notice for Fiscal Year 1999

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

Application Deadline for Maximum Estimated

CFDA Number and name Applications deadline intergovernmental award (per Page number of

available date review year)* Limit** awards

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

84.325A Preparation of Special Education, Related Services, and

Early Intervention Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and

Children with Low-Incidence Disabilities.......................... 09/28/98 11/09/98 01/08/99 $300,000 40 26

84.325D Preparation of Leadership Personnel....................... 09/28/98 11/16/98 01/15/99 $200,000 40 18

84.325E Preparation of Personnel in Minority Institutions......... 09/28/98 02/01/99 04/02/99 $200,000 40 15

84.325H Improving the Preparation of Personnel to Serve Children

with High-Incidence Disabilities.................................. 09/28/98 12/07/98 02/05/99 $200,000 40 32

84.325N Projects of National Significance......................... 09/28/98 11/30/98 01/29/99 $200,000 40 12

84.327U Closed Captioned Television Programs...................... ............ ........... ................. ........... ........... ...........

National News & Public Information........................... 09/28/98 11/23/98 01/22/99 $500,000 40 15

Children's Programs.......................................... ............ ........... ................. $250,000 ........... ...........

Syndicated Television Programming............................ ............ ........... ................. $350,000 ........... ...........

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

*The Secretary rejects and does not consider an application that proposes a budget exceeding the amount listed for each priority for any single budget

period of 12 months.

** Applicants must limit the Application Narrative, Part III of the Application, to the page limits noted above. Please refer to the ``Page Limit''

requirements included under each priority and competition description in this notice. The Secretary rejects and does not consider an application that

does not adhere to this requirement.

[[Page 50121]]

Electronic Access to This Document

Anyone may view this document, as well as all other Department of

Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or

portable document format (pdf) on the World Wide Web at either of the

following sites:

http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm

http://www.ed.gov/news.html

To use the pdf you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader Program with

Search, which is available free at either of the previous sites. If you

have questions about using the pdf, call the U.S. Government Printing

Office at (202) 512-1530 or, toll free at 1-888-293-6498.

Anyone may also view these documents in text copy only on an

electronic bulletin board of the Department. Telephone: (202) 219-1511

or, toll free, 1-800-222-4922. The documents are located under Option

G--Files/Announcements, Bulletins, and Press Releases.

Note: The official version of a document is the document

published in the Federal Register.

Dated: August 20, 1998.

Curtis L. Richards,

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

[FR Doc. 98-25088 Filed 9-17-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P