27802 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2001 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Special Education and

Rehabilitative Services; Special

Education—Technology and Media

Services for Individuals With

Disabilities Program

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice inviting applications for

new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2001.

SUMMARY: This notice provides closing

dates and other information regarding

the transmittal of applications for two

FY 2001 competitions under one

program authorized by the Individuals

with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),

as amended: Special Education—

Technology and Media Services for

Individuals with Disabilities.

National Education Goals

The eight National Education Goals

focus the Nation’s education reform

efforts and provide a framework for

improving teaching and learning.

This priority addresses the National

Education Goals that promote new

partnerships to strengthen schools and

expand the Department’s capacities for

helping communities to exchange ideas

and obtain information needed to

achieve the goals.

These priorities would address the

National Education Goals by helping to

improve results for children with

disabilities.

Waiver of Rulemaking

It is generally our practice 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.

General Requirements

(a) The 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) The projects funded under these

priorities must budget for a two-day

Project Directors’ meeting in

Washington, DC during each year of the

project.

(d) In a single application, an

applicant must address only one

absolute priority in this notice.

(e) Part III of each application

submitted under a priority in this

notice, the application narrative, is

where an applicant addresses the

selection criteria that are used by

reviewers in evaluating the application.

You must limit Part III to the equivalent

of no more than the number of pages

listed in the table at the end of this

notice for each applicable priority, using

the following standards:

• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5′′ × 11′′ (on one side

only) with one-inch margins (top,

bottom, and sides).

• Double-space (no more than three

lines per vertical inch) all text in the

application narrative, including titles,

headings, footnotes, quotations, and

captions, as well as all text in charts,

tables, figures, and graphs.

• 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 per inch.

The page limit does not apply to Part

I, the cover sheet; Part II, the budget

section, including the narrative budget

justification; Part IV, the assurances and

certifications; or the one-page abstract,

the resumes, the bibliography or

references, or the letters of support.

However, you must include all of the

application narrative in Part III.

We will reject without consideration

or evaluation any application if—

• You apply these standards and

exceed the page limit; or

• You apply other standards and

exceed the equivalent of the page limit.

Pilot Project for Electronic Submission

of Applications

The U.S. Department of Education is

expanding its pilot project of electronic

submission of applications. The

program in this announcement is

included in the pilot project. If you are

an applicant for a grant under this 2

program, you may submit your

application to us in either electronic or

paper format.

The pilot project involves the use of

the Electronic Grant Application System

(e-APPLICATION, formerly e-GAPS)

portion of the Grant Administration and

Payment System (GAPS). We request

your participation in this pilot project.

We shall continue to evaluate its

success and solicit suggestions for

improvement.

If you participate in this eAPPLICATION pilot, please note the

following:

• Your participation is voluntary.

• You will not receive any additional

point value or penalty because you

submit a grant application in electronic

or paper format.

• You can submit all documents

electronically, including the

Application for Federal Assistance (ED

424), Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all

necessary assurances and certifications.

• Fax a signed copy of the

Application for Federal Assistance (ED

424) after following these steps:

1. Print ED 424 from the eAPPLICATION system.

2. Make sure that the institution’s

Authorizing Representative signs this

form.

3. Before faxing this form, submit

your electronic application via the eAPPLICATION system. You will receive

an automatic acknowledgement, which

will include a PR/Award number (an

identifying number unique to your

application).

4. Place the PR/Award number in the

upper right hand corner of ED 424.

5. Fax ED 424 to the Application

Control Center within three working

days of submitting your electronic

application. We will indicate a fax

number in e-APPLICATION at the time

of your submission.

• We may request that you give us

original signatures on all other forms at

a later date.

You may access the electronic grant

application for the program at: http://egrants.ed.gov

We have included additional

information about the e-APPLICATION

pilot project (see Parity Guidelines

between Paper and Electronic

Applications) in the application

package.

Note: Some of the procedures in these

instructions for transmitting applications

differ from those in the Education

Department General Administrative

Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR 75.102). Under

the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C.

553) the Department generally offers

interested parties the opportunity to

comment. However, these amendments make

procedural changes only and do not establish

new substantive policy. Therefore, under 5

U.S.C. 553(b)(A), the Secretary has

determined that proposed rulemaking is not

required.

Technology and Media Services for

Individuals With Disabilities (CFDA

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.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2001 / Notices 27803

Applicable Regulations: (a) The

Education Department General

Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in

34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,

85, 86, 97, 98, and 99; (b) The selection

criteria for the priorities under this

program are drawn from the EDGAR

general selection criteria menu. The

specific selection criteria for each

priority are included in the funding

application packet for the applicable

competition.

Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86

apply to institutions of higher education

only.

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 forprofit organizations.

Priority

Under section 687 of IDEA and 34

CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only

applications that meet the following

priorities:

Absolute Priority 1—Cultural

Experiences for Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Individuals (84.327T)

Background

Past projects funded under this

priority supported a variety of activities,

including: theatrical experiences in

which cast members included deaf,

hard-of-hearing, and hearing performers;

theater and set design, directing, dance,

and storytelling; cultural experiences

focusing on Native American art and

culture; hands-on theatre experience

involving persons from minority groups;

a touring ‘‘instant theater;’’ producing

videos of performances and

documentaries of performances; and

drama workshops.

Priority

This priority supports a variety of

cultural activities designed to enrich the

lives of deaf or hard-of-hearing

individuals, children, or adults. These

activities must use an approach that

integrates deaf or hard-of-hearing

individuals with those who can hear,

while conducting cultural experiences

that will increase public awareness and

understanding of deafness, deaf culture,

and of the artistic and intellectual

achievements of deaf and hard-ofhearing individuals.

A grantee may not use funds under

this priority for passive activities, such

as viewing a play or video or passively

watching a storyteller or artist at work.

To be considered for funding under

this priority, a project must—

(a) Use an integrated approach that

mixes children or adults who are deaf

or hard-of-hearing with those who are

hearing in carrying out project activities;

and

(b) Develop and implement strategies

that will increase public awareness and

understanding of deafness, deaf culture,

and of the artistic and intellectual

achievements of deaf and hard-ofhearing individuals. Outreach activities

such as promoting the project to

schools, community organizations, news

media, and relevant national

organizations are encouraged.

Invitational Priority

Within this absolute priority, the

Secretary is particularly interested in

applications that meet the following

invitational priority. However, pursuant

to 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1), an application

that meets this invitational priority does

not receive competitive or absolute

preference over applications that do not

meet this priority:

Projects that include people from a

variety of cultural, racial, or ethnic

backgrounds.

Competitive Preference

Within this absolute priority, we will

give the following competitive

preference points under section 606 of

IDEA and 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), to

applications that are otherwise eligible

for funding under this priority:

Up to ten (10) points based on the

effectiveness of the applicant’s strategies

for employing and advancing in

employment qualified individuals with

disabilities in project activities as

required under paragraph (a) of the

‘‘General Requirements’’ section of this

notice. In determining the effectiveness

of those strategies, we may consider the

applicant’s past success in pursuit of

this goal.

Therefore, for purposes of this

competitive preference, applicants can

be awarded up to a total of 10 points in

addition to those awarded under the

published selection criteria for this

priority. That is, an applicant meeting

this competitive preference could earn a

maximum total of 110 points.

Project Period: Up to 36 months.

Maximum Award: The maximum

award amount is $110,000 per year.

Consistent with EDGAR 34 CFR

75.104(b), we will reject any application

that proposes a project funding level for

any year that exceeds the stated

maximum award amount for that year.

Page Limits: The maximum page limit

for this priority is 50 double-spaced

pages.

Note: Applications must meet the required

page limit standards that are described in the

‘‘General Requirements’’ section of this

notice.

Absolute Priority 2—Center to Support

Technology Innovation for Students

With Disabilities (84.327Z) Background

Technology can dramatically improve

early intervention and educational

results for infants, toddlers, and

children with disabilities, whether it is

designed specifically for use by

individuals with disabilities, or for a

general population and is accessible for

individuals with disabilities.

The Federal government has a number

of programs that may augment the

benefits of technology for infants,

toddlers, and children with disabilities.

For example, programs in the Office of

Special Education Programs (OSEP) and

in the National Institute on Disability

and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

support a range of technology

innovation and implementation efforts

focused on the needs of individuals

with disabilities. Other Federal

programs have the potential to provide

support in this area as well. These

include, but are not limited to:

(a) Technology research and

innovation programs offered in other

offices in the Department of Education

(e.g., Small Business Innovation

Research);

(b) The Access Board and the Federal

Information Technology Accessibility

Initiative (FITAI) that promote

technology accessibility; and

(c) Technology research,

development, and transfer programs

operated by other Federal agencies (e.g.,

National Aeronautics and Space

Administration, Department of Defense,

National Science Foundation).

Technology benefits can also be

enhanced by federally-supported

technical assistance and dissemination

projects sponsored by OSEP (e.g.,

Regional and Federal Resource Centers,

Partnership Projects, and the Center to

Link Urban Schools (LINK US)), and

other projects in the Department of

Education (e.g., Regional Educational

Laboratories, ABLEDATA Database

Program).

Non-Federal resources and efforts can

affect the benefits that infants, toddlers,

and children with disabilities derive

from technology. These include, but are

not limited to:

(a) State and local policies (e.g.,

technology acquisition standards,

policies for program access);

(b) State and local programs and

resources (e.g., technology programs and

personnel, including numerous

innovative technology efforts);

(c) Teacher training and professional

development programs offered by State

27804 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2001 / Notices

and local educational agencies and

institutions of higher education;

(d) Efforts by professional groups and

trade associations (e.g., the Technology

and Media Division of the Council for

Exceptional Children, the Quality

Indicators for Assistive Technology

(QIAT) Consortium, the Schools

Interoperability Framework (SIF)

sponsored by the Software and

Information Industry Association);

(e) Technology products that are

commercially developed and

distributed; and

(f) Public-private partnerships

focusing on technology (e.g., the IMS

Global Learning Consortium and the

federally-funded Specifications for

Accessible Learning Technologies

(SALT) Partnership, the Center for

Innovative Learning Technologies

(CILT)).

In addition, general trends and

developments in technology and

instruction affect the benefits derived

from technology. These include, but are

not limited to:

(a) The development of faster, smaller,

and cheaper computers;

(b) Increased use of wireless

communications;

(c) Increased speed and capacity of

the internet;

(d) Use of new information models

(e.g., extensible markup language

(XML));

(e) Increased use of special-purpose

and ‘‘ubiquitous’’ computers (e.g.,

computers in appliances, TVs, and

telephones); and

(f) New technology-based

instructional approaches (e.g., distance

learning, simulations).

Clearly, the benefits that infants,

toddlers, and children with disabilities

can derive from technology are

influenced by a number of programs,

policies, resources, professional

activities, trends, and other factors. It

would be useful if all of these factors

collectively contributed to maximizing

the benefits of technology for this

population of children.

However, such an outcome cannot be

assumed. Technology innovations will

not result in widespread benefits unless

they are disseminated effectively.

Commercially developed products may

not benefit infants, toddlers, and

children with disabilities unless they

are designed to meet their needs.

Special education researchers and

technology developers cannot draw

upon technology innovations and trends

of which they are unaware.

Priority

This priority will support a Center to

improve the use of technology to

achieve better early intervention and

educational results for infants, toddlers,

and children with disabilities by: (a)

Cultivating a collaborative network; (b)

analyzing, synthesizing, and

disseminating research-based and best

practice information; (c) promoting the

distribution and use as appropriate of

technology-related products and

approaches with potential to improve

results, including products and

approaches developed with OSEP

funding; and (d) analyzing needs,

issues, trends, and promising

approaches.

(a) The Center’s activities for

cultivating a collaborative network must

include, but are not limited to:

(1) Developing and updating on a

regular basis a database of projects

(including OSEP-funded projects),

agencies, professional and trade

associations, commercial companies,

and other organizations and entities as

discussed in the background section

that may contribute to the Center’s

efforts to improve the use of technology

to achieve better results. This database

is to be posted on the web site.

(2) Forming an advisory board of eight

to ten representatives with various

perspectives, and maintaining

communication with this board,

including convening an annual meeting

in Washington, DC. The purpose of this

board is to review and comment at least

annually on the Center’s plans and

evaluation findings, and to provide

additional advisory support as needed.

Perspectives to be represented on the

advisory board must include, but are not

limited to: technology developers,

technology researchers, Federal agencies

and programs, commercial vendors,

technical assistance providers,

personnel preparation programs,

teachers and other service providers,

persons with disabilities who use

technology, and parents of children

with disabilities.

(3) Developing and implementing

procedures to collect information on

relevant activities of the entities

identified in paragraph (1).

(4) Distributing a quarterly e-mail

newsletter (with links to the web site)

describing the activities of the Center

and of other members of the network,

including the activities of OSEP-funded

projects, in improving the use of

technology to achieve better results.

(b) The Center’s activities for

analyzing, synthesizing, and

disseminating research-based and best

practice information must be targeted to

audiences of practitioners,

administrators, policymakers, parents,

children, and other audiences as

appropriate. These activities must

include, but are not limited to:

(1) Completing and disseminating one

to four syntheses of research and best

practice knowledge per year on topics

related to the effective use of technology

to achieve better results. The results of

these syntheses must be packaged in

formats suitable for the target audiences,

as well as technology researchers and

developers. Products must include a

series of research briefs announced in

the newsletter and posted on the web

site.

(2) Completing and disseminating at

least one video package per year

designed for use in teacher training,

staff development, program

improvement, and similar efforts

presenting research-based, and bestpractice information on the use of

technology to achieve better results.

Each package must include one 15 to 20

minute video and supporting materials

intended for target audiences as

previously described.

(3) Conducting technical assistance,

dissemination or training activities for

target audiences. The Center must

conduct at least two of these activities

in the first year and at least four in each

subsequent year. These activities must

be conducted in collaboration with

other members of the network. The

activities may draw upon OSEPsponsored projects and other sources,

including the materials developed by

the Center. The activities must be

designed to disseminate research-based

and best practice information on using

technology to achieve better results.

(c) The Center’s activities for

promoting the distribution and use as

appropriate of technology-related

products and approaches with potential

to improve results, including products

and approaches developed with OSEP

funding, must include, but are not

limited to:

(1) Maintaining a listing of

commercial and noncommercial

resources for disseminating findings and

products of technology projects, and

including these resources in the

network.

(2) Providing technical assistance and

training for developers of technologyrelated products and approaches on

developing high quality and marketable

products, and finding dissemination or

marketing resources. This technical

assistance and training may be delivered

in conjunction with the annual meeting

on technology and infants, toddlers and

children with disabilities described in

this priority.

(3) Including information about

technology-related products and

approaches with potential to improve

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2001 / Notices 27805

results in the newsletter, and providing

follow-up information to potential

dissemination or marketing resources.

(d) The Center’s activities for

analyzing needs, issues, trends, and

promising approaches must include, but

are not limited to:

(1) Annually convening from one to

four consensus panels of experts to

focus on specific needs, issues, trends,

and promising approaches, and produce

documents describing implications for

using technology to achieve better

results. Consensus panels may involve

preparation of background papers prior

to meetings. The Center must post all

background papers and the products of

consensus panels on the web site.

(2) Maintaining ongoing collection of

information on developments in

government, private industry, early

intervention, education, and similar

arenas relevant to needs, issues, trends,

and promising approaches. This

information must be reported in the

newsletter and on the web site.

In addition to, and supportive of the

activities listed previously, the Center

must do all of the following:

(a) Maintain a web site that includes:

The network database, on-line

documents and products of the Center

activities, on-line descriptions of

products developed by OSERS-funded

projects, links to web resources

(including all web sites maintained by

OSERS-funded projects involved in

technology innovation), articles linked

to the newsletter, and discussion

groups. This web site must conform to

all relevant standards regarding

accessibility.

(b) Conduct an annual meeting in

Washington DC on technology and

infants, toddlers, and children with

disabilities. This meeting must include

approximately 110 directors of OSEPsponsored projects involved in

technology innovations, and 20 other

local participants representing Federal

agencies, professional groups, etc. The

Center must pay for travel and lodging

for an estimate of 85 project directors

(the remaining participants are local or

will pay for their travel with their own

project funds). The conference must

include a demonstration event of OSEPsupported technologies.

(c) Meet with OSEP staff during the

first month of each project year to

discuss and obtain approval for plans

for the year.

(d) Conduct project evaluation

activities to ascertain the quality of the

Center’s activities and products, and to

determine the Center’s progress toward

improving the use of technology to

achieve better results.

(e) Submit quarterly reports

describing and documenting Center

activities, including results of the

evaluation activities described in the

previous paragraph.

Accessibility: All products developed

by the Center must conform to relevant

standards of accessibility, including

captioning all videos and providing

alternative formats for written materials.

Competitive Preferences

Within this absolute priority, we will

award the following competitive

preference points under section 606 of

IDEA and 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i), to

applications that are otherwise eligible

for funding under this priority:

Up to ten (10) points based on the

effectiveness of the applicant’s strategies

for employing and advancing in

employment qualified individuals with

disabilities in project activities as

required under paragraph (a) of the

‘‘General Requirements’’ section of this

notice. In determining the effectiveness

of those strategies, we may consider the

applicant’s past success in pursuit of

this goal.

Therefore, for purposes of this

competitive preference, applicants can

be awarded up to a total of 10 points in

addition to those awarded under the

published selection criteria for this

priority. That is, an applicant meeting

this competitive preference could earn a

maximum total of 110 points.

Project Period: Under this priority, we

will make one award for a cooperative

agreement for a project period of up to

60 months subject to the requirements

of 34 CFR 75.253(a) for continuation

awards. In deciding whether to continue

the Center for the fourth and fifth years,

we will consider the requirements of 34

CFR 75.253(a), and in addition—

(a) The recommendation of a review

team consisting of experts selected by

the Secretary, which review will be

conducted during the last half of the

project’s second year in Washington DC.

Projects must budget for travel

associated with this review;

(b) The timeliness and effectiveness

with which all requirements of the

negotiated cooperative agreement have

been or are being met by the Center; and

(c) The degree to which the Center is

making a positive contribution to

improving the use of technology to

achieve better results for infants,

toddlers, and children with disabilities.

Maximum Award: The maximum

award amount is $750,000 for the first

budget period of 12 months and

$1,000,000 for subsequent budget

periods of 12 months. Consistent with

EDGAR 34 CFR 75.104(b), we will reject

any application that proposes a budget

funding level for any year that exceeds

the stated maximum award amount for

that year.

Page Limits: The maximum page limit

for this priority is 60 double-spaced

pages.

Note: Applications must meet the required

page limit standards that are described in the

‘‘General Requirements’’ section of this

notice.

For Applications Contact: Education

Publications Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box

1398, Jessup, Maryland 20794–1398.

Telephone (toll free): 1–877–4ED–Pubs

(1–877–433–7827). FAX: 301–470–1244.

Individuals who use a

telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD) may call (toll free) 1–877–576–

7734.

You may also contact Ed Pubs via its

Web site (http://www.ed.gov/pubs/

edpubs.html) or its E-mail address

(edpubs@inet.ed.gov).

If you request an application from ED

Pubs, be sure to identify these

competitions as follows: CFDA 84.327T

and CFDA 84.327Z.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Grants and Contracts Services Team,

U.S. Department of Education, 400

Maryland Avenue, S.W., room 3317,

Switzer Building, Washington, D.C.

20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 260–

9182.

If you use a TDD you may call the

Federal Information Relay Service

(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339.

Individuals with disabilities may

obtain this document in an alternative

format (e.g., Braille, large print,

audiotape, or computer diskette) on

request to the contact persons listed in

the preceding paragraph.

Individuals with disabilities may

obtain a copy of the application package

in an alternative format by contacting

the Department as listed above.

However, the Department is not able to

reproduce in an alternative format the

standard forms included in the

application package.

Intergovernmental Review

This notice is 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 intergovernmental

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, we

intend this document to provide early

notification of the Department’s specific

plans and actions for those programs.

27806 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 97 / Friday, May 18, 2001 / Notices

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT APPLICATION NOTICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2001

CFDA No. and name Applications

available

Application

deadline date

Deadline for

Intergovernmental review

Maximum

award

(per year)*

Project period Page

limit**

Estimated

number of

awards

84.327T Cultural Experiences for Deaf or Hard of

Hearing Individuals.

05/25/01 07/09/01 09/10/01 $110,000 Up to 36 mos .... 50 5

84.327Z Center to Support

Technology Innovation for

Students with Disabilities.

05/25/01 07/20/01 09/20/01 ........................ Up to 60 mos .... 60 1

First twelve-month funding period......................... ........................ ........................ 750,000 ........................... ................ ....................

Subsequent twelvemonth funding periods......................... ........................ ........................ 1,000,000 ........................... ................ ....................

* Consistent with EDGAR 34 CFR 75.104(b), we will reject any application that proposes a project funding level for any year that exceeds the

stated maximum award amount for that year. **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 description and the page limit standards described in the ‘‘General Requirements’’ section. We will reject

and will not consider an application that does not adhere to this requirement.

Electronic Access to This Document

You 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 internet at the

following site: www.ed.gov/legislation/

FedRegister

To use PDF you must have Adobe

Acrobat Reader, which is available free

at the previous site. If you have

questions about using PDF, call the U.S.

Government Printing Office (GPO), toll

free, at 1–888–293–6498; or in the

Washington, DC., area at (202) 512–

1530.

Note: The official version of this document

is the document published in the Federal

Register. Free Internet access to the official

edition of the Federal Register and the Code

of Federal Regulations is available on GPO

Access at: http://www.access.gpo/nara/

index.html

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1487.

Dated: May 14, 2001.

Francis V. Corrigan,

Deputy Director, National Institute on

Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

[FR Doc. 01–12519 Filed 5–17–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–U