[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5291-5296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2182]


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

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Overview 
Information; Technology and Media Services for Individuals With 
Disabilities--Steppingstones of Technology Innovation for Children With 
Disabilities Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal 
Year (FY) 2010

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.327A.

    Note: This notice includes one absolute priority with two 
phases, and funding information for each phase of the competition.

    Dates:
    Applications Available: February 2, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See the chart in the 
Award Information section of this notice (Chart).
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: See Chart.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The purposes of the Technology and Media 
Services for Individuals with Disabilities program are to: (1) Improve 
results for children with disabilities by promoting the development, 
demonstration, and use of technology; (2) support educational media 
services activities designed to be of educational value in the 
classroom setting to children with disabilities; and (3) provide 
support for captioning and video description that are appropriate for 
use in the classroom setting.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute, or otherwise 
authorized in the statute (see sections 674 and 681(d) of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2010 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards based on the list of unfunded applications 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:

Technology and Media Services for Individuals With Disabilities--
Steppingstones of Technology Innovation for Children With Disabilities

Background

    The Department has made Steppingstones of Technology Innovation for 
Children with

[[Page 5292]]

Disabilities awards for several years under the Technology and Media 
Services for Individuals with Disabilities program. Awards are made in 
two phases: (1) Development and (2) research on effectiveness. 
Abstracts of projects funded under these two phases can be found at 
http://publicddb.tadnet.org/.

Priority

    The Steppingstones of Technology Innovation for Children with 
Disabilities absolute priority requires grantees to develop, implement, 
and evaluate innovative technology approaches designed to improve 
results for children with disabilities. Phase 1 projects must develop, 
refine, and test the feasibility of specific technology-based 
approaches. Phase 2 projects must subject technology-based approaches 
to rigorous field-based research to determine their effectiveness.
    To be considered for funding under the Steppingstones of Technology 
Innovation for Children with Disabilities absolute priority, applicants 
must meet the application requirements contained in the priority. All 
projects funded under the absolute priority also must meet the 
programmatic and administrative requirements specified in the priority. 
The application, programmatic, and administrative requirements are as 
follows:
    (a) In the application, an applicant must--
    (1) Describe a technology-based approach for improving the results 
of (a) early intervention programs, (b) response-to-intervention (RTI) 
assessment techniques, or (c) preschool, elementary school, middle 
school, or high school educational programs for children with 
disabilities. The technology-based approach must be an innovative 
combination of new technology and additional materials and 
methodologies that enable the technology to improve early intervention 
programs, RTI assessment techniques, or educational results for 
children with disabilities;
    (2) Present a justification, based on scientifically rigorous 
research or theory, that supports the potential effectiveness of the 
technology-based approach described pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of 
this priority for improving results for children with disabilities. The 
approach must have the potential to improve child outcomes, not just 
parent or provider outcomes. Child outcomes may include improved 
academic or pre-academic skills, improved behavioral or social 
functioning, and improved functional performance, provided that valid 
and reliable measurement instruments are employed to assess the 
outcomes. Technology-based approaches intended for use by providers or 
parents may not be funded under this priority unless child-level 
benefits are clearly demonstrated. Technology-based approaches for 
professional development will not be funded under this priority;
    (3) Provide a detailed plan for conducting work in one of the 
following two phases:
    (i) Phase 1--Development: Projects funded under Phase 1 must 
develop and refine a technology-based approach, and test its 
feasibility for use with children with disabilities. Activities under 
Phase 1 of the priority may include development, adaptation, and 
refinement of technology, materials, or methodologies. Activities under 
Phase 1 of the priority must include a formative evaluation of the 
technology-based approach's usability and feasibility for use with 
children with disabilities. Each project funded under Phase 1 must be 
designed to develop, as its primary product, a promising technology-
based approach that is suitable for field-based evaluation of its 
effectiveness in improving results for children with disabilities.
    (ii) Phase 2--Research on Effectiveness: Projects funded under 
Phase 2 must select a promising technology-based approach that has been 
developed and tested in a manner consistent with the criteria for 
activities funded under Phase 1, and subject the approach to rigorous 
field-based research to determine its effectiveness in educational or 
early intervention settings. Approaches studied under Phase 2 may have 
been developed with previous funding under Phase 1 of this priority or 
with funding from other sources. Phase 2 of this priority is primarily 
intended to produce sound research-based evidence demonstrating that 
the technology-based approach can improve educational or early 
intervention results for children with disabilities in a defined range 
of real world contexts.
    Projects funded under Phase 2 of this priority must conduct 
research that poses a causal question and must seek to answer that 
question through randomized assignment to treatment and comparison 
conditions, unless a strong justification is made for why a randomized 
trial is not possible. If a randomized trial is not possible, the 
applicant must employ alternatives that substantially minimize 
selection bias or allow the selection bias to be modeled. These 
alternatives include appropriately structured regression-discontinuity 
designs and natural experiments in which naturally occurring 
circumstances or institutions (perhaps unintentionally) divide people 
into treatment and comparison groups in a manner akin to purposeful 
random assignment. In their applications, applicants proposing to use 
an alternative system must (1) make a compelling case that 
randomization is not possible, and (2) describe in detail how the 
procedures will result in substantially minimizing the effects of 
selection bias on estimates of effect size. Choice of randomizing unit 
or units (e.g., students, classrooms, schools) must be grounded in a 
theoretical framework. Observational, survey, or qualitative 
methodologies may complement experimental methodologies to assist in 
the identification of factors that may explain the effectiveness or 
ineffectiveness of the technology-based approach being evaluated. 
Applicants must propose research designs that permit the identification 
and assessment of factors that may have an impact on the fidelity of 
implementation. Mediating and moderating variables that are both 
measured in the practice or model condition and are likely to affect 
outcomes in the comparison condition must be measured in the comparison 
condition (e.g., student time-on-task, teacher experience, or time in 
position).
    Projects funded under Phase 2 of this priority must conduct 
comprehensive research in order to provide convincing evidence of the 
effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the technology-based approach under 
study, at least within a defined range of settings. Applicants must 
provide documentation that available sample sizes, methodologies, and 
treatment effects are likely to result in conclusive findings regarding 
the effectiveness of the technology-based approach;
    (4) Provide a plan for forming collaborative relationships with 
vendors, other dissemination or marketing resources, or both to ensure 
that the technology-based approach can be made widely available if 
sufficient evidence of effectiveness is obtained. Applicants should 
document the availability and willingness of dissemination or marketing 
resources to participate. Applicants are encouraged to plan these 
collaborative relationships early in their projects, even in Phase 1 
(if applicable), but should refrain from widespread dissemination of 
the technology-based approach to practitioners until evidence of its 
effectiveness is obtained in Phase 2; and
    (5) Budget for the project director to attend an annual three-day 
Project

[[Page 5293]]

Directors' meeting in Washington, DC, and another annual two-day trip 
to Washington, DC to collaborate with the Federal project officer and 
the other projects funded under this priority to share information, and 
to discuss findings and methods of dissemination.
    (b) The project also must conduct the following activities:
    (1) If the project maintains a Web site, include relevant 
information and documents in a format that meets a government or 
industry-recognized standard for accessibility.
    (2) If the project produces instructional materials for 
dissemination, produce them in accessible formats (e.g., with 
captioning, with video description, or complying with the National 
Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS), as 
appropriate).
    Within this absolute priority, we are particularly interested in 
applications that address the following invitational priorities.
    Invitational Priorities: Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give 
an application that meets one of these invitational priorities a 
competitive or absolute preference over other applications.
    These priorities are:
    (1) Projects led by a project director or principal investigator 
who is in the initial phase of his or her career. For purpose of this 
invitational priority, the initial phase of an individual's career is 
considered to be the first three years after the individual completes 
and graduates from a doctoral program (i.e., for FY 2010 awards, 
projects may support individuals who completed and graduated from a 
doctoral program no earlier than the 2006-2007 academic year).
    (2) Projects focusing on technology-based approaches for children 
with disabilities, ages birth to age three.
    (3) Projects focusing on technology-based approaches to response-
to-intervention assessment techniques.
    (4) Projects focusing on technology-based approaches for 
instruction in science, mathematics, or both for children with 
disabilities.
    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 priority in this notice.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1474 and 1481.
    Applicable Regulations: 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.

    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education (IHEs) only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $2,400,000. Please refer to the 
``Estimated Range of Awards'' column in the Chart for the estimated 
dollar amounts for the two phases of this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: See Chart.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: See Chart.
    Maximum Award: Phase 1: $200,000, per year and Phase 2: $300,000, 
per year. We will reject any application that proposes a budget 
exceeding the maximum award for a single budget period of 12 months. 
The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services may change the maximum amount through a notice published in 
the Federal Register.
    Estimated Number of Awards: See Chart.
    Project Period: Projects funded under Phase 1 will be funded for up 
to 24 months. Projects funded under Phase 2 will be funded for up to 36 
months. We will reject any application that proposes a project period 
exceeding 24 months for Phase 1 or 36 months for Phase 2.

                     Steppingstones of Technology Innovation for Children With Disabilities Application Notice for Fiscal Year 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Deadline for                                     Estimated       Estimated       Estimated       Estimated
        CFDA number and name               transmittal of             Deadline for           available       range of      average size      number of
                                            applications        intergovernmental review       funds          awards         of awards        awards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.327A--Steppingstones of
 Technology Innovation for Children
 with Disabilities:
    Phase 1--Development............  March 19, 2010.........  May 18, 2010.............      $1,200,000  $100,000-$200,        $200,000               6
                                                                                                                     000
    Phase 2--Research on              March 19, 2010.........  May 18, 2010.............       1,200,000  200,000-300,00         300,000               4
     Effectiveness.                                                                                                    0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs); local 
educational agencies (LEAs); public charter schools that are LEAs under 
State law; IHEs; other public agencies; private nonprofit 
organizations; outlying areas; freely associated States; Indian tribes 
or tribal organizations; and for-profit organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This competition does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Other: General Requirements--(a) The projects funded under this 
competition must make positive efforts to employ and advance in 
employment qualified individuals with disabilities (see section 606 of 
IDEA).
    (b) Applicants and grant recipients funded under this competition 
must involve individuals with disabilities or parents of individuals 
with disabilities ages birth through 26 in planning, implementing, and 
evaluating the projects (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of IDEA).

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: 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), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
    You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: http://www.EDPubs.gov or at its e-mail address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3b6b7a3a6b1a093babdb6a7fdb6b7fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="88edecf8fdeafbc8e1e6edfca6edeca6efe7fe">[email protected]</span></a>.
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this

[[Page 5294]]

competition as follows: CFDA number 84.327A.
    Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application 
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, 
or computer diskette) by contacting the person or team listed under 
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for 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:
    <bullet> A ``page'' is 8.5<gr-thn-eq> x 11<gr-thn-eq>, on one side 
only, with 1<gr-thn-eq> margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
    <bullet> Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch) 
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings, 
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in 
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
    <bullet> Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller 
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
    The page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; Part II, 
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part 
IV, the assurances and certifications; 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: February 2, 2010.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: See Chart.
    Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted 
electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-
Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants site, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates 
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in 
paper format by mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 6. 
Other Submission Requirements 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: See Chart.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive 
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about 
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 
12372 is in the application package for this competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. 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.
    If you choose to submit your application to us electronically, you 
must use e-Application, accessible through the Department's e-Grants 
Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.
    While completing your electronic application, you will be entering 
data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an 
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    Please note the following:
    <bullet> Your participation in e-Application is voluntary.
    <bullet> You must complete the electronic submission of your grant 
application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. E-Application will not accept an application for this 
competition after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait 
until the application deadline date to begin the application process.
    <bullet> The hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6:00 
a.m. Monday until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday; and 6:00 a.m. Thursday until 
8:00 p.m. Sunday, Washington, DC time. Please note that, because of 
maintenance, the system is unavailable between 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and 
6:00 a.m. on Mondays, and between 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6:00 a.m. 
on Thursdays, Washington, DC time. Any modifications to these hours are 
posted on the e-Grants Web site.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> You must submit 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. You must attach any narrative sections of your 
application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF 
(Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the 
three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password 
protected file, we will not review that material.
    <bullet> Your electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
    <bullet> Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may 
wish to print a copy of it for your records.
    <bullet> After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number 
(an identifying number unique to your application).
    <bullet> Within three working days after submitting your electronic 
application, fax a signed copy of the SF 424 to the Application Control 
Center after following these steps:
    (1) Print SF 424 from e-Application.
    (2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.
    (3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the 
hard-copy signature page of the SF 424.
    (4) Fax the signed SF 424 to the Application Control Center at 
(202) 245-6272.
    <bullet> We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
other forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System 
Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting 
your application on the application deadline date because e-Application 
is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to 
enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by 
hand delivery. We will grant this extension if--
    (1) You are a registered user of e-Application and you have 
initiated an

[[Page 5295]]

electronic application for this competition; and
    (2) (a) E-Application is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between 
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date; or
    (b) E-Application is unavailable for any period of time between 
3:30 p.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application 
deadline date.
    We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability 
before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to 
confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may 
contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under For 
Further Information Contact (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-
Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If e-Application is unavailable due 
to technical problems with the system and, therefore, the application 
deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all registered users 
who have initiated an e-Application.
    Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the 
unavailability of e-Application. If e-Application is available, and, 
for any reason, you are unable to submit your application 
electronically or you do not receive an automatic acknowledgment of 
your submission, you may submit your application in paper format by 
mail or hand delivery in accordance with the instructions in this 
notice.
    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 84.327A), 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 
84.327A), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 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 grant notification within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

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

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: 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 http://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 Technology and Media Services for Individuals with 
Disabilities program. These measures focus on the extent to which 
projects are of high quality, are relevant to improving outcomes of

[[Page 5296]]

children with disabilities, and contribute to improving outcomes for 
children with disabilities. We will collect data on these measures from 
the projects funded under this competition.
    Grantees also will be required to report information on their 
projects' performance in annual reports to the Department (34 CFR 
75.590).

 VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Terry Jackson, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4081, Potomac Center Plaza 
(PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-6039.
    If you use a TDD, call the Federal Relay Service, 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 computer diskette) by 
contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC 
20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the FRS, 
toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister. To 
use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
this site.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: January 28, 2010.
Alexa Posny,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-2182 Filed 2-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>