[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 64 (Thursday, April 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16010-16011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8477]


      

[[Page 16009]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part III





Department of Education





_______________________________________________________________________



Training Personnel for the Education of Individuals With Disabilities--
Grants for Personnel Training; Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year 1997; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 64 / Thursday, April 3, 1997 / 
Notices

[[Page 16010]]



DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[CFDA No.: 84.029G]


Training Personnel for the Education of Individuals With 
Disabilities--Grants for Personnel Training; Notice Inviting 
Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 1997

    Purpose of Program: The purpose of Training Personnel for the 
Education of Individuals with Disabilities Program--Grants for 
Personnel Training is to increase the quantity and improve the quality 
of personnel available to serve infants, toddlers, children, and youth 
with disabilities.
    Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher 
education, and appropriate nonprofit agencies.
    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 regulations for this program in 34 CFR 
Part 318.
    In some instances, the description of the absolute priority 
identified below differs from applicable regulatory provisions in 34 
CFR 318. These changes, as well as any supplementary information 
provided under the priority that is not found in the regulations, 
represent interpretative guidance and are provided for purposes of 
clarification. These interpretations do not substantively change the 
regulations.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR Part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

    Priority: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), and 34 CFR 318, 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--Grants for Preservice Personnel Training 
(84.029G).
    This priority supports projects designed to provide preservice 
preparation (leading toward a degree, certification, endorsement, or 
licensure) of personnel who serve infants, toddlers, children and youth 
with disabilities. Projects must address either:
    (1) The development of new programs to establish expanded capacity 
for quality preservice training; or
    (2) The improvement of existing programs designed to increase the 
capacity and quality of preservice training.
    In addition, projects must address one or more of the following 
training components:
    (1) Preparation of Personnel for Careers in Special Education. This 
component supports preservice preparation of personnel for careers in 
special education. Preservice training includes additional training for 
currently employed teachers seeking additional degrees, certifications, 
or endorsements. Training may occur at one or more of the following 
levels; baccalaureate, master's, or specialist. Under this component, 
``personnel'' includes special education teachers, speech-language 
pathologists, audiologists, adapted physical education teachers, 
vocational educators, and instructive and assistive technology 
specialists.
    (2) Preparation of Related Services Personnel. This component 
supports preservice preparation of individuals to provide 
developmental, corrective, and other supportive services that assist 
children and youth with disabilities to benefit from special education. 
These include paraprofessional personnel, therapeutic recreation 
specialists, school social workers, health service providers, physical 
therapists, occupational therapists, school psychologists, counselors 
(including rehabilitation counselors), interpreters, orientation and 
mobility specialists, respite care providers, art therapists, 
volunteers, physicians, and other related services personnel. For 
purposes of this component, the Department considers the term 
``interpreters'' to be limited to interpreters for the deaf.
    (i) Projects to train personnel identified as special education 
personnel under training component (1) are not appropriate for purposes 
of this component, even if those personnel may be considered related 
services personnel in other settings (e.g., speech language 
pathologists).
    (ii) This component is not designed for general training. Projects 
must include inducements and preparation to increase the probability 
that graduates will direct their efforts toward supportive services to 
special education. For example, a project in occupational therapy (OT) 
might support a special focus in pediatric or juvenile psychiatric OT; 
support those students whose career goal is OT in the school; or 
provide for practica and internships in school settings.
    (3) Training Early Intervention and Preschool Personnel. This 
component supports projects that are designed to provide preservice 
preparation of personnel who serve infants, toddlers, and preschool 
children with disabilities, and their families. Personnel may be 
prepared to provide short-term services or long-term services that 
extend into a child's school program. The proposed training program 
must have a clear and limited focus on the special needs of children 
within the age range from birth through five, and must include 
consideration of family involvement in early intervention and preschool 
services. Training programs under this priority must have a significant 
interdisciplinary focus.
    Invitational priority: Within this absolute priority, the Secretary 
is particularly interested in applications that meet the following 
invitational priority. However, under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) an 
application that meets this invitational priority does not receive 
competitive or absolute preference over other applications:
    Preservice personnel preparation projects that prepare special 
educators to work collaboratively with regular educators to meet the 
needs of children with disabilities in inclusive settings.
    Applications Available: April 24, 1997.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 6, 1997.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 5, 1997.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 40.
    Project Period: Up to 36 months.
    Available funds: In fiscal year 1997, approximately $8,200,000 will 
be available to support this competition.
    Maximum Award: The Secretary rejects and does not consider an 
application that proposes a budget for any single budget period of 12 
months that exceeds: (1) $160,000 for applications addressing a single 
component; (2) $320,000 for applications addressing two components; and 
(3) $480,000 for applications addressing all three components. 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, requires applicants to address the selection criteria that 
will be used by reviewers in evaluating individual proposals. For 
applications that address a single component, the applicant must limit 
the Part III--Application Narrative, to no more than 40 double-spaced 
8\1/2\'' x 11'' pages (on one side only) with one inch margins (top, 
bottom, and sides). For applications that address two components, the 
applicant must limit the Part III--Application Narrative, to no more 
than 75 double-spaced 8\1/2\'' x

[[Page 16011]]

11'' pages (on one side only) with one inch margins (top, bottom, and 
sides). For applications that address three components, the applicant 
must limit the Part III--Application Narrative, to no more that 105 
double-spaced 8\1/2\'' by 11'' pages (on one side only) with one inch 
margins (top, bottom, and sides). This page limitation applies to all 
material presented in the application narrative--including, for 
example, any charts, tables, figures, and graphs. The application 
narrative page limit does not apply to: Part I--the cover sheet; Part 
II--the budget section (including the narrative budget justification); 
and Part IV--the assurances and certifications. Also, the one-page 
abstract, resumes, bibliography, or letters of support, while 
considered part of the application, are not subject to the page 
limitation. Applicants should note that reviewers are not required to 
review any information provided in addition to the application 
information listed above. All sections of text in the application 
narrative 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 14 
characters per inch. If using a nonproportional font or a typewriter, 
do not use more than 12 characters to the inch. Double-spacing and font 
requirements do not apply within charts, tables, figures, and graphs, 
but the information presented in those formats should be easily 
readable. The Secretary rejects and does not consider an application 
that does not adhere to these requirements.

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

Waiver of Rulemaking

    It is the practice of the Secretary to offer interested parties the 
opportunity to comment on proposed priorities in accordance with the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553). However, this application 
notice restates existing priorities in 34 CFR 318. In addition, the 
Secretary has determined, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A), that 
rulemaking requirements do not apply to the changes to applicable 
regulatory provisions contained in this notice. These changes reflect 
the Secretary's interpretation of existing regulations and are provided 
solely for purposes of clarification.

FOR INFORMATION OR APPLICATIONS CONTACT: The Grants and Contracts 
Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 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) 205-9860. Individuals with disabilities 
may obtain a copy of this notice in an alternate format (e.g. braille, 
large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the 
Department as listed above.
    Information about the Department's funding opportunities, including 
copies of application notices for discretionary grant competitions, can 
be viewed on the Department's electronic bulletin board (ED Board), 
telephone (202) 260-9950; on the Internet Gopher Server (at Gopher://
gcs.ed.gov); or on the World Wide Web (at http://gcs.ed.gov). However, 
the official application notice for a discretionary grant competition 
is the notice published in the Federal Register.

    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431.

    Dated: March 27, 1997.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 97-8477 Filed 4-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P