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###### Department of Education

# AGENCY:

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education.

# ACTION:

Notice.

## Overview Information

### Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities—Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel

Notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2012.

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

# DATES:

 

*Applications Available:*                         March 22, 2012.                    

*Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:*                         May 7, 2012.                    

*Deadline for Intergovernmental Review:*                         July 5, 2012.                    

## Full Text of Announcement

## I. Funding Opportunity Description

*Purpose of Program:*                     The purposes of this program are to (1) help address State-identified needs for highly qualified personnel in special education, related services, early intervention, and regular education to work with children, including infants and toddlers, with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been determined through scientifically based research and experience, to be successful in serving those children.                

*Priorities:*                     In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 662 and 681 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)).                

*Absolute Priority:*                     For FY 2012 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet this priority.                

This priority is:

### Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel

#### Background

The purpose of the Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel priority is to support programs that prepare special education, early intervention, and related services personnel at the graduate level who are well-qualified for, and can act effectively in, leadership positions in universities, State educational agencies (SEAs), lead agencies (LAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), early intervention services programs (EIS programs), or schools.

Over the last two decades, there has been a need for leadership personnel who are prepared at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels to fill faculty positions in special education, early intervention, and related services (Sindelar & Taylor, 1988; Smith & Lovett, 1987; Smith, Pion, & Tyler, 2004; Smith, Robb, West and Tyler, 2010; Woods & Snyder, 2009). These leaders teach evidence-based practices to special education, early intervention, and related services professionals who work in a variety of educational settings and provide services directly to children and youth with disabilities. They also conduct research to increase the knowledge of effective interventions and services for these children (Smith et al., 2010).

State and local agencies also need leadership personnel who are prepared at the graduate level (i.e., master's, education specialist, and doctoral degrees, depending on State certification requirements) to fill special education and early intervention administrator positions. These administrators supervise and evaluate the implementation of evidence-based instructional programs to make sure that State or local agencies are meeting the needs of children with disabilities. Administrators also ensure that schools and programs meet Federal, State, and local requirements for special education, early intervention, and related services (Lashley & Boscardin, 2003).

Federal support can increase the supply of personnel who have the necessary knowledge and skills to assume leadership positions in special education, early intervention, and related services in universities, SEAs, LAs, LEAs, EIS programs, or schools. Critical competencies for special education, early intervention, and related services personnel vary depending on the type of personnel and the requirements of the preparation program but can include, for example, skills needed for postsecondary instruction, administration, policy development, professional practice, leadership, or research. However, all leadership personnel need to have current knowledge of effective interventions and services that improve outcomes for children with disabilities, including high-need children with disabilities.

### Priority

                    The purpose of the Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel priority is to support programs that prepare special education, early intervention, and related services personnel at the graduate level who are well-qualified for, and can act effectively in, leadership positions in universities, SEAs, LAs, LEAs, EIS programs, or schools. This priority supports two types of programs:                          ( print page 16820)    

Type A programs are designed to prepare special education, early intervention, or related services personnel to serve as higher education faculty. Type A programs culminate in a doctoral degree or provide postdoctoral learning opportunities.

# Note:

Preparation programs that lead to clinical doctoral degrees in related services (e.g., a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree or Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree) are not included in this priority. These types of preparation programs are eligible to apply for funding under the Personnel Preparation in Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services priority (CFDA 84.325K) that the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) intends to fund in FY 2012.

Type B programs are designed to prepare special education or early intervention administrators to work in SEAs, LAs, LEAs, EIS programs, or schools. Type B programs prepare personnel for positions such as SEA special education administrators, LEA or regional special education directors, school-based special education directors, preschool coordinators, and early intervention coordinators. Type B programs culminate in a master's, education specialist, or doctoral degree.

# Note:

 OSEP intends to fund in FY 2012 at least three high-quality applications proposing Type B programs and may fund applications out of rank order. 

# Note:

The preparation of school principals is not included in this priority. 

# Note:

Applicants must identify the specific program type, A or B, for which they are applying for funding as part of the competition title on the application cover sheet (SF form 424, item 15). Applicants may not submit the same proposal for more than one program type.

To be considered for funding under the Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel absolute priority, all program 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.

The requirements of this priority are as follows:

(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under “Significance of the Project” how—

                    (1) The project addresses national, State, or regional needs for leadership personnel to administer programs or provide, or prepare others to provide, interventions and services that improve outcomes of children with disabilities, ages birth through 21, including high-need children with disabilities.[1]                                          To address this requirement, the applicant must—                

(i) Present appropriate and applicable national, State, or regional data demonstrating the need for the leadership personnel the applicant proposes to prepare; and

(ii) Present data on the effectiveness of the graduate program to date in areas such as: the effectiveness of program graduates as educators of teachers, service providers, or administrators; the average amount of time it takes for program graduates to complete the program; the percentage of program graduates finding employment directly related to their preparation; and the professional accomplishments of program graduates (e.g., public service, honors, or publications) that demonstrate their leadership in special education, early intervention, or related services; and

# Note:

Data on the effectiveness of a graduate program should be no older than five years from the start date of the project proposed in the application. When reporting percentages, the denominator (i.e., the total number of students) must be provided.

(2) Scholar competencies to be acquired in the program relate to knowledge and skills needed by the leadership personnel the applicant proposes to prepare. To address this requirement, the applicant must—

(i) Identify the competencies needed by leadership personnel in postsecondary instruction, administration, policy development, professional practice, leadership, or research in order to administer programs or provide, or prepare others to provide, interventions and services that improve outcomes of children with disabilities, ages birth through 21, including high-need children with disabilities; and

(ii) Provide the conceptual framework of the leadership preparation program, including any empirical support, that will promote the acquisition of the identified competencies needed by leadership personnel and where applicable, how these competencies relate to the project's specialized preparation area.

(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under “Quality of the Project Services,” how—

(1) The project will recruit and support high-quality scholars. The narrative must—

(i) Describe the selection criteria the applicant will use to identify high-quality applicants for admission in the program;

(ii) Describe the recruitment strategies the applicant will use to attract high-quality applicants and any specific recruitment strategies targeting high-quality applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups; and

(iii) Describe the approach the applicant will use to help scholars complete the program; and

(2) The project is designed to promote the acquisition of the competencies needed by leadership personnel to administer programs or provide, or prepare others to provide, interventions and services that improve outcomes of children with disabilities. To address this requirement, the applicant must—

(i) Describe how the components of the project, such as coursework, internship or practicum experiences, research requirements, and other opportunities provided to scholars to analyze data, critique research and methodologies, and practice newly acquired knowledge and skills, will enable the scholars to acquire the competencies needed by leadership personnel for postsecondary instruction, administration, policy development, professional practice, leadership, or research in special education, early intervention, or related services;

(ii) Describe how the components of the project are integrated in order to support the acquisition and enhancement of the identified competencies needed by leadership personnel in special education, early intervention, or related services;

                    (iii) Describe how the components of the project prepare scholars to administer programs or provide, or prepare others to provide, interventions and services that improve outcomes of children with disabilities in a variety of settings, including in high-need LEAs,[2]                                          high-poverty schools,[3]                                          low-performing                           ( print page 16821)                        schools, including persistently lowest-achieving schools,[4]                                          priority schools (in the case of States that have received the Department's approval of a request for ESEA flexibility),[5]                                          and early childhood programs located within the geographical boundaries of a high-need LEA; and                

(iv) Describe the approach that faculty members will use to mentor scholars with the goal of helping them acquire competencies needed by leadership personnel and promote career goals in special education, early intervention, or related services.

(c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application, under “Quality of the Project Evaluation,” how—

(1) The applicant will evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed leadership project. The applicant must describe the outcomes to be measured for both the project and the scholars, particularly the acquisition of scholar competencies; the evaluation methodologies to be employed, including proposed instruments, data collection methods, and possible analyses; and the proposed standards or targets for determining effectiveness;

(2) The applicant will collect and use data on current scholars and scholars who graduate from the program to improve the proposed program on an ongoing basis; and

(3) The grantee will report the evaluation results to OSEP in its annual and final performance reports.

(d) Include, in the narrative under “Required Project Assurances,” or appendices as directed, that the following program requirements are met. The applicant must—

(1) Include in the application appendix—

(i) Course syllabi for all coursework in the major and any required coursework for a minor;

(ii) Course syllabi for all research methods, evaluation methods, or data analysis courses required by the degree program and elective research methods, evaluation methods, or data analysis courses that have been completed by more than one student enrolled in the program in the last five years; and

(iii) For new coursework, proposed syllabi;

(2) Ensure that all scholars recruited into the program can graduate from the program by the end of the grant's project period. The described scholar recruitment strategies, the program components and their sequence, and proposed budget must be consistent with this project requirement;

(3) Ensure that the project will meet the statutory requirements in section 662(e) through 662(h) of IDEA;

(4) Ensure that at least 65 percent of the total requested annual budget will be used for scholar support or provide justification in the application narrative for any designation less than 65 percent. Examples of sufficient justification for proposing less than 65 percent of the budget for scholar support include—

(i) A project servicing rural areas that provides long-distance coursework, and requires information technology personnel, adjunct professors, or site-based mentors to operate effectively; and

(ii) A project that expands or adds a new area of emphasis to special education, early intervention, or related services, and includes data on the need for the expansion and information on how these expanded or new areas will be sustained once Federal funding ends.

(5) Ensure that the institution will not require scholars enrolled in the program to work (e.g., as graduate assistants) as a condition of receiving a scholarship, unless the work is specifically related to the acquisition of scholars' competencies and the requirements for completion of their personnel preparation program. Please note that this prohibition on work as a condition of receiving a scholarship does not apply to the service obligation requirements in section 662(h) of IDEA;

(6) Ensure that the budget includes attendance of the project director at a three-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC, during each year of the project. The budget may also provide for the attendance of scholars at the three-day Project Directors' meeting in Washington, DC;

(7) Ensure that if the project maintains a Web site, relevant information and documents are in a format that meets government or industry-recognized standards for accessibility; and

                    (8) Ensure that annual data will be submitted on each scholar who receives grant support. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Personnel Development Program Scholar Data Report Web site at:                     *http://oseppdp.ed.gov*                     for further information about this data collection requirement. Typically, data collection begins in January of each year, and grantees are notified by email about the data collection period for their grant. This data collection must be submitted electronically by the grantee and does not supplant the annual grant performance report required of each grantee for continuation funding (see 34 CFR 75.590).                

*Competitive Preference Priorities:*                     Within this absolute priority, we give competitive preference to applications that meet one or more of the following priorities. For FY 2012 and any subsequent year in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, these priorities are competitive preference priorities.                

*Competitive Preference Priority 1:*                     Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award 5 points to an application that meets this priority.                

This priority is:

                    Applicants for Type A or Type B programs that demonstrate, through a letter of support, a relationship with one or more high-need LEAs; publicly funded preschool programs, including Head Start programs, located within the geographic boundaries of a high-need                           ( print page 16822)                        LEA; or programs serving children eligible for services under Part C or Part B, section 619 of the IDEA located within the geographic boundaries of a high-need LEA that will provide scholars with a high-quality internship or practicum experience in a school in a high-need LEA, publicly funded preschool, or early intervention program.                

The applicant must describe in the narrative the high-quality internship or practicum experiences that will be provided to scholars. The applicant must include with its application a letter of support from the partnering agency, school, or program that: (a) Indicates agreement to be a site for the proposed internship or practicum experiences; and (b) confirms a previously established partnership between the applicant and partnering agency, school, or program.

*Competitive Preference Priority 2:*                     Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) we award 5 points to an application that meets this priority.                

This priority is:

Applicants for Type B programs that provide a syllabus or syllabi for a new or existing course, or series of courses, that show(s) that the course or courses include or will include: (1) A discussion of applicable research and evaluation findings on the use of data on early learning outcomes, student achievement, or growth in student achievement in evaluating the effectiveness of early intervention providers, related services providers, teachers, or principals; (2) methodological and statistical considerations in conducting an evaluation of the effectiveness of these personnel using data on early learning outcomes, student achievement, or growth in student achievement; and (3) an opportunity for scholars to review, critique, and, as appropriate, participate in one or more evaluations of the effectiveness of early intervention providers, related services providers, teachers, or principals.

# Note:

Five is the maximum amount of competitive preference points an applicant can receive for meeting one or both of the competitive preference priorities. Applicants must include in the one-page abstract submitted with the application a statement indicating which competitive preference priorities they have addressed.

### References

                        Lashley, C., & Boscardin, M.L. (2003). Special education administration at the crossroads: Availability, licensure, and preparation of special education administrators. Gainesville, FL: Center on Personnel Studies in Special Education, University of Florida. Retrieved February 24, 2010, from                         *www.coe.ufl.edu/​copsse/​docs/​IB-8/​1/​IB-8.pdf*.                    

                        National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. (2009). What is a professional development school? Retrieved June 29, 2009, from                         *http://www.ncate.org/​public/​*.                    

                        Sindelar, P.T., & Taylor, C. (1988). Supply and demand for doctoral personnel in special education and communication disorders.                         *Teacher Education and Special Education, 11,*                         162-167.                    

                        Smith, D.D., & Lovett, D. (1987). The supply and demand of special education faculty members? Will the supply meet the demand.                         *Teacher Education and Special Education, 11,*                         162-167.                    

                        Smith, D.D., Pion, G.M., & Tyler, N.C. (2004). Leadership personnel in special education: Can persistent shortages be resolved? In A.M. Sorells, H.J., Rieth and P.T. Sindelar (Eds.),                         *Critical Issues in Special Education: Access, Diversity, and Accountability*                         (pp. 258-276). New York: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon.                    

                        Smith, D.D., Robb, S.M., West, J., & Tyler, N.C. (2010). The changing education landscape: How special education leadership preparation can make a difference for teachers and their students with disabilities.                         *Teacher Education and Special Education, 33*                        (1), 25-43.                    

                        Woods, J., & Snyder, P. (2009). Interdisciplinary doctoral leadership training in early intervention.                         *Infants & Young Children, 22*                        (1), 32-4.                    

*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. 1462 and 1481.*Applicable Regulations:*                         (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 304.                    

## II. Award Information

*Type of Award:*                     Discretionary grants.                

*Estimated Available Funds:*                     $3,250,000. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2013 from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition.                

*Estimated Range of Awards:*                     $225,000-$250,000.                

*Estimated Average Size of Awards:*                     $237,500.                

*Maximum Award:*                     We will reject any application that proposes a budget exceeding $250,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the                     **Federal Register**                    .                

*Estimated Number of Awards:*                     13.                

# Note:

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

*Project Period:*                     Up to 60 months.                

## III. Eligibility Information

                    1.                     *Eligible Applicants:*                     Institutions of higher education (IHEs).                

                    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) Each applicant and grant recipient 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 project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of IDEA).

## IV. Application and Submission Information

                    1.                     *Address to Request Application Package:*                     You can obtain an application package via the Internet, from the Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), or from the program office.                

                    To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following address:                     *www.ed.gov/​fund/​grant/​apply/​grantapps/​index.html.*

To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following: ED Pubs, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (703) 605-6794. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.

                    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also:                     *www.EDPubs.gov*                     or at its email address:                     *edpubs@inet.ed.gov*.                

If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.325D.

                    To obtain a copy from the program office, contact the person listed under                     **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT**                     in section VII of this notice.                

                    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under                     *Accessible Format*                     in section VIII of this notice.                          ( print page 16823)    

                    2.                     *Content and Form of Application Submission:*                     Requirements concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this competition. Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit Part III to the equivalent of no more than 50 pages, using the following standards:                
      - A “page” is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
      - Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions.
      - Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
      - Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font (including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.

The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the resumes, the bibliography, the references, or the letters of support. However, you must include all of the application narrative in Part III.

We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit; or if you apply other standards and exceed the equivalent of the page limit.

                    3.                     *Submission Dates and Times:*

*Applications Available:*                     March 22, 2012.                

*Deadline for Transmittal of Applications:*                     May 7, 2012.                

                    Applications for grants under this competition 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. 7.                     *Other Submission Requirements*                     of 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 of 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: July 5, 2012.                

                    4.                     *Intergovernmental Review:*                     This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this program.                

                    5.                     *Funding Restrictions:*                     We reference regulations outlining funding restrictions in the                     *Applicable Regulations*                     section of this notice.                

                    6.                     *Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification Number, and Central Contractor Registry:*                     To do business with the Department of Education, you must—                

a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);

b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), the Government's primary registrant database;

c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and

d. Maintain an active CCR registration with current information while your application is under review by the Department and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period.

You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number can be created within one business day.

If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service. If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a new TIN, please allow 2-5 weeks for your TIN to become active.

The CCR registration process may take five or more business days to complete. If you are currently registered with the CCR, you may not need to make any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.

                    In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the following Grants.gov Web page:                     *www.grants.gov/​applicants/​get_​registered.jsp*.                

                    7.                     *Other Submission Requirements:*                     Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail or hand delivery.                

### a. Electronic Submission of Applications

We are participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site. The Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel, CFDA number 84.325D, is included in this project. We request your participation in Grants.gov.

                    If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must use the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at                     *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 email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.                

                    You may access the electronic grant application for the Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel, CFDA number 84.325D at                     *www.Grants.gov.*                     You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.325, not 84.325D).                

Please note the following:
      - Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
      - When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, as well as the hours of operation.
      - Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if it is received—that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system—after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after       ( print page 16824)                          4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.                
      - The amount of time it can take to upload an application will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
      - You should review and follow the Education Submission Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are included in the application package for this competition to ensure that you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home page at http://www.G5.gov .                
      - 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 upload all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: the 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.
      - If you submit your application electronically, you must upload any narrative sections and all other attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document) read only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, non-modifiable PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that material. Additional, detailed information on how to attach files is in the application instructions.
      - 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 email. 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 of 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 following address:

U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.325D), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260.

You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.

(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service.

(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier.

(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

(1) A private metered postmark.

(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application.

# Note:

The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office.

### c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery

If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:

U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.325D), 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.
      ( print page 16825)    

## V.  Application Review Information

                    1.                     *Selection Criteria:*                     The selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.                

                    2.                     *Review and Selection Process:*                     We remind potential applicants that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition, the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or submitted a report of unacceptable quality.                

In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).

                    3.                     *Additional Review and Selection Process Factors:*

In the past, the Department has had difficulty finding peer reviewers for certain competitions because so many individuals who are eligible to serve as peer reviewers have conflicts of interest. The Standing Panel requirements under IDEA also have placed additional constraints on the availability of reviewers. Therefore, the Department has determined that for some discretionary grant competitions, applications may be separated into two or more groups and ranked and selected for funding within specific groups. This procedure will make it easier for the Department to find peer reviewers by ensuring that greater numbers of individuals who are eligible to serve as reviewers for any particular group of applicants will not have conflicts of interest. It also will increase the quality, independence, and fairness of the review process, while permitting panel members to review applications under discretionary grant competitions for which they also have submitted applications. However, if the Department decides to select an equal number of applications in each group for funding, this may result in different cut-off points for fundable applications in each group.

                    4.                     *Special Conditions:*                     Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance; has a financial or other management system that does not meet the standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.                

## 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 Notification (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 of this notice.                

                    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the                     *Applicable Regulations*                     section of 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:*                     (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition, you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).                

                    (b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual performance report that provides the most current performance and financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting, please go to                     *www.ed.gov/​fund/​grant/​apply/​appforms/​appforms.html.*

                    4.                     *Performance Measures:*                     Under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), the Department has established a set of performance measures, including long-term measures, that are designed to yield information on various aspects of the effectiveness and quality of the Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities Program. These measures include: (1) The percentage of projects that incorporate evidence-based practices into the curriculum; (2) the percentage of scholars completing Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities-funded programs who are knowledgeable and skilled in evidence-based practices for children, including infants and toddlers, with disabilities; (3) the percentage of Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities-funded scholars who exit preparation programs prior to completion due to poor academic performance; (4) the percentage of Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities-funded degree/certification recipients who are working in the area(s) in which they were prepared upon program completion; (5) the percentage of Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities-funded degree/certification recipients who are working in the area(s) for which they were prepared upon program completion and are fully qualified under IDEA; (6) the percentage of Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities degree/certification recipients who maintain employment for three or more years in the area(s) for which they were prepared and who are fully qualified under IDEA; and (7) the Federal cost per fully qualified degree/certification recipient.                

Grantees may be asked to participate in assessing and providing information on these aspects of program quality.

                    5.                     *Continuation Awards:*                     In making a continuation award, the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.253, the extent to which a grantee has made “substantial progress toward meeting the objectives in its approved application.” This consideration includes the review of a grantee's progress in meeting the targets and projected outcomes in its approved application, and whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is consistent with its approved application and budget. In making a continuation grant, the Secretary also considers whether the grantee is operating in compliance with the assurances in its approved application, including those applicable to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).                

## VII. Agency Contact

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Celia Rosenquist, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,                               ( print page 16826)                            Room 4055, Potomac Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2600. Telephone: (202) 245-7373.                    

If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.

## VIII. Other Information

*Accessible Format:*                         Individuals with disabilities can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) 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 or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.                    

*Electronic Access to This Document:*                         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 via the Federal Digital System at:                         *www.gpo.gov/​fdsys.*                         At this site 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). To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the                         **Federal Register**                         by using the article search feature at:                         *www.federalregister.gov.*                         Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department.                    

Dated: March 19, 2012.

Alexa Posny,

Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

# Footnotes

1.                             For the purpose of this priority, “high-need children with disabilities” refers to children (ages birth through twenty-one, depending on the State) who are eligible for services under IDEA, and who may be further disadvantaged and at risk of educational failure because they: (1) Are living in poverty, (2) are far below grade level, (3) are at risk of not graduating with a regular high school diploma on time, (4) are homeless, (5) are in foster care, (6) have been incarcerated, (7) are English learners, (8) are pregnant or parenting teenagers, (9) are new immigrants, (10) are migrant, or (11) are not on track to being college- or career-ready by graduation.                    
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2.                             For purposes of this priority, the term “high-need LEA” means an LEA (a) that serves not fewer than 10,000 children from families with incomes below the poverty line; or (b) for which not less than 20 percent of the children served by the LEA are from families with incomes below the poverty line.                    
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3.                             For purposes of this priority, the term “high-poverty school” means a school in which at least 50 percent of students are eligible for free or                                                 reduced-price lunches under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or in which at least 50 percent of students are from low-income families as determined using one of the criteria specified under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended. For middle and high schools, eligibility may be calculated on the basis of comparable data from feeder schools. Eligibility as a high-poverty school under this definition is determined on the basis of the most currently available data                         *(www2.ed.gov/​legislation/​FedRegister/​other/​2010-4/​121510b.html).*
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4.                             The term “persistently lowest-achieving schools” means, as determined by the State—                    

(a)(1) Any Title I school in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring that—

(i) Is among the lowest-achieving five percent of Title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring or the lowest-achieving five Title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring in the State, whichever number of schools is greater; or

(ii) Is a high school that has had a graduation rate as defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is less than 60 percent over a number of years; and 

(2) Any secondary school that is eligible for, but does not receive, Title I funds that—

(i) Is among the lowest-achieving five percent of secondary schools or the lowest-achieving five secondary schools in the State that are eligible for, but do not receive, Title I funds, whichever number of schools is greater; or

(ii) Is a high school that has had a graduation rate as defined in 34 CFR 200.19(b) that is less than 60 percent over a number of years.

(b) To identify the persistently lowest-achieving schools, a State must take into account both—

(i) The academic achievement of the ”all students” group in a school in terms of proficiency on the State's assessments under section 1111(b)(3) of the ESEA in reading/language arts and mathematics combined; and

(ii) The school's lack of progress on those assessments over a number of years in the “all students” group. 

                        For the purposes of this priority, the Department considers schools that are identified as Tier I or Tier II schools under the School Improvement Grants Program (see 75 FR 66363) as part of a State's approved FY 2009 or FY 2010 applications to be persistently lowest-achieving schools. A list of these Tier I and Tier II schools can be found on the Department's Web site at                         *http://www2.ed.gov/​programs/​sif/​index.html*.                    
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5.                             The term “priority school” means a school that has been identified by the State as a priority school pursuant to the State's approved request for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility.                    
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[FR Doc. 2012-6945 Filed 3-21-12; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000-01-P