81_FR_88453 81 FR 88218 - Applications for New Awards; Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities-Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel

81 FR 88218 - Applications for New Awards; Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities-Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 235 (December 7, 2016)

Page Range88218-88226
FR Document2016-29371

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88218-88226]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29371]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Applications for New Awards; Personnel Development To Improve 
Services and Results for Children With Disabilities--Preparation of 
Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership 
Personnel

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

ACTION: Notice.

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    Overview Information: Personnel Development to Improve Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities--Preparation of Special 
Education, Early

[[Page 88219]]

Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel
    Notice inviting applications for a new award for fiscal year (FY) 
2017.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.325D.

Dates: Applications Available: December 7, 2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 6, 2017.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: April 6, 2017.

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 personnel preparation in special 
education, early intervention, related services, 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.
    Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority 
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 662 
and 681 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); 20 
U.S.C. 1462 and 20 U.S.C. 1481).
    Absolute Priority: For FY 2017 and any subsequent year in which we 
make awards from 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:
    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 existing doctoral degree programs that prepare special 
education, early intervention, and related services personnel who are 
well-qualified for, and can act effectively in, leadership positions as 
researchers and special education/early intervention/related services 
personnel preparers in institutions of higher education (IHEs), or as 
leaders in national organizations, State educational agencies (SEAs), 
lead agencies (LAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), early 
intervention services programs (EIS programs), or schools.
    There is a well-documented need for leadership personnel to fill 
faculty and leadership positions in special education, early 
intervention, and related services (Castillo, Curtis, & Tan, 2014; 
Montrosse & Young, 2012; Robb, Smith, & Montrosse, 2012; Smith, 
Montrosse, Robb, Tyler, & Young, 2011; Smith, Robb, West, & Tyler, 
2010; Woods & Snyder, 2009). These leaders conduct research to increase 
the knowledge of effective interventions and services for children and 
youth with disabilities. These leaders also teach practices supported 
by evidence to future special education, early intervention, and 
related services professionals who will work in a variety of 
educational settings and provide services directly to these children 
(Robb et al., 2012; Smith et al., 2010; West & Hardman, 2012). 
Shortages in these leadership positions could limit the field's 
capacity to generate new knowledge of effective interventions and to 
prepare future professionals to improve outcomes for children with 
disabilities (Smith et al., 2011).
    Shortages of leadership personnel at State and local agencies to 
fill special education and early intervention administrator positions 
have also been noted (Billingsley, Crockett, & Kamman, 2014). These 
administrators supervise and evaluate the implementation of 
instructional programs supported by evidence 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 as 
researchers and special education/early intervention/related services 
personnel preparers in IHEs, or as leaders in national organizations, 
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.\1\
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    \1\ For a definition of ``high-need children with 
disabilities,'' please see footnote 2.
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    Priority: The purpose of the Preparation of Special Education, 
Early Intervention, and Related Services Leadership Personnel priority 
is to support pre-existing doctoral degree programs that prepare 
special education, early intervention, and related services personnel 
who are well-qualified for, and can act effectively in, leadership 
positions as researchers and special education/early intervention/
related services personnel preparers in IHEs, or as leaders in national 
organizations, SEAs, LAs, LEAs, or EIS programs. This priority supports 
two types of programs:
    Type A programs are designed to prepare special education, early 
intervention, and related services personnel as researchers and 
personnel preparers in IHEs. Type A programs culminate in a doctoral 
degree.

    Note:  Preparation programs that lead to clinical doctoral 
degrees in related services (e.g., a Doctor of Audiology degree or 
Doctor of Physical Therapy 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 2017.

    Type B programs are designed to prepare special education or early 
intervention administrators to work as leaders in national 
organizations, SEAs, LAs, LEAs, or EIS programs. Type B programs 
prepare personnel for positions such as SEA special education 
administrators, LEA or regional special education directors, school-
based special education directors, including those in youth 
correctional facilities, preschool coordinators, and early intervention 
coordinators. Type B programs culminate in a doctoral degree.

    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 abstract. 
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 this absolute priority also must meet the

[[Page 88220]]

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, regional, or district 
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.\2\ To address this 
requirement, the applicant must--
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    \2\ For purposes of this priority, ``high-need children with 
disabilities'' refers to children (ages birth through 21, 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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    (i) Present appropriate and applicable data (e.g., national, State) 
demonstrating the need for the leadership personnel the applicant 
proposes to prepare; and
    (ii) Present data demonstrating the effectiveness of the doctoral 
program to date in producing leaders in special education, early 
intervention, or related services such as: 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; the effectiveness of program 
graduates as educators of teachers, service providers, or 
administrators, including any results from evaluating the impact of 
those teachers, service providers, or administrators on the outcomes of 
children with disabilities; the average amount of time it takes for 
program graduates to complete the program; the number of program 
graduates; and the percentage of program graduates finding employment 
directly related to their preparation.

    Note:  Data on the effectiveness of a doctoral program should be 
no older than five years prior to the start date of the project 
proposed in the application. When reporting percentages, the 
denominator (i.e., the total number of scholars or program 
graduates) 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, including knowledge of technologies designed to 
provide instruction. 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, including knowledge of technologies designed to provide 
instruction, 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 applicant 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, including individuals with disabilities; and
    (iii) Describe the approach the applicant will use to help all 
scholars, including individuals with disabilities, 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 
supported by evidence to improve outcomes, including college- and 
career-readiness 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, including knowledge of technologies 
designed to provide instruction;
    (iii) Describe how the components of the project prepare scholars 
to administer programs or provide, or prepare others to provide, 
interventions and services that are supported by evidence to improve 
outcomes, including college- and career-readiness, of children with 
disabilities in a variety of settings, including in high-need LEAs; \3\ 
high-poverty schools; \4\ low-performing schools; \5\ priority schools 
(in the case of States that have received the Department of Education's 
(Department's) approval of a request for ESEA flexibility); \6\ and 
early childhood programs located within the geographical boundaries of 
a high-need LEA;
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    \3\ For the 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.
    \4\ For the purposes of this priority, the term ``high-poverty 
school'' means a school that is in the highest two quartiles of 
schools served by an LEA, based on the percentage of enrolled 
students from low-income families as defined in section 1113(a)(5) 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended 
(ESEA).
    \5\ For the purposes of this priority, the term ``low-performing 
school'' means a school receiving assistance through Title I of the 
ESEA that, at the time of submission of an application under this 
competition, is (1) identified as a school in need of corrective 
action or restructuring under section 1116 of the ESEA, as amended 
by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB); or (2) identified as 
a priority or focus school in a State that implemented ESEA 
flexibility. The inclusion of these schools as ``low-performing 
schools'' reflects the fact that the 2016-2017 school year is a year 
of transition between requirements of the ESEA as amended by the 
NCLB and the ESEA as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act.
    \6\ For the purposes of this priority, 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 ESEA 
flexibility.
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    (iv) Demonstrate, through a letter of support from a partnering 
agency, school, or program, that there is an agreement with one or more 
high-need LEAs; publicly funded preschool programs, including Head 
Start programs, located within the geographic boundaries of a high-need 
LEA; or programs serving children eligible for services under Part C or 
Part B, section 619 of IDEA located within the

[[Page 88221]]

geographic boundaries of a high-need LEA, that it 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;
    (v) Describe how the project will use resources, as appropriate, 
available through technical assistance centers, which may include 
centers funded by the Department; and
    (vi) 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 how well the goals or objectives of 
the proposed leadership project have been met. The applicant must 
describe the outcomes to be measured for both the project and the 
scholars, particularly the acquisition of scholar competencies and 
their impact on the services provided by future teachers, service 
providers, or administrators; and the evaluation methodologies to be 
employed, including proposed instruments, data collection methods, and 
possible analyses;
    (2) The applicant will collect, analyze, 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 applicant will report the evaluation results to OSEP in its 
annual and final performance reports.
    (d) Demonstrate, 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 scholar enrolled in the program in 
the last five years; and
    (iii) For new coursework, proposed syllabi;

    Note:  Applicants for Type B programs should provide a syllabus 
or syllabi for current or proposed courses that provide instruction 
on, or permit practice with, research and the methodological, 
statistical, and practical considerations in the use of data on 
early learning outcomes, student achievement, or growth in student 
achievement to evaluate the effectiveness of early intervention 
providers, related services providers, teachers, or principals.

    (2) Ensure that the proposed number of scholars to be recruited 
into the program can graduate from the program by the end of the 
grant's project period. The described scholar recruitment strategies, 
including recruitment of individuals with disabilities, the program 
components and their sequence, and proposed budget must be consistent 
with this project requirement;
    (3) Ensure scholars will not be selected based on race or national 
origin/ethnicity. Per the Supreme Court's decision in Adarand 
Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, 515 U.S. 200 (1995), the Department does 
not allow the selection of individuals on the basis of race or national 
origin/ethnicity. For this reason, grantees must ensure that any 
discussion of the recruitment of scholars based on race or national 
origin/ethnicity distinguishes between increasing the pool of 
applicants and actually selecting scholars;
    (4) Ensure that the project will meet the requirements in 34 CFR 
304.23, particularly those related to informing all scholarship 
recipients of their service obligation commitment. Failure by a grantee 
to properly meet these requirements is a violation of the grant award 
that may result in sanctions, including the grantee being liable for 
returning any misused funds to the Department. Specifically, the 
grantee must prepare, and ensure that each scholarship recipient signs, 
the following two documents:
    (i) A Pre-Scholarship Agreement prior to the scholar receiving a 
scholarship for an eligible program (Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) Control Number 1820-0686); and
    (ii) An Exit Certification immediately upon the scholar leaving, 
completing, or otherwise exiting that program (OMB Control Number 1820-
0686);
    (5) Ensure that prior approval from the OSEP project officer will 
be obtained before admitting additional scholars beyond the number of 
scholars proposed in the application and before transferring a scholar 
to another preparation program funded by OSEP;
    (6) Ensure that the project will meet the statutory requirements in 
section 662(e) through 662(h) of IDEA;
    (7) Ensure that at least 65 percent of the total requested budget 
over the five years will be used for scholar support;
    (8) Ensure that the IHE will not require scholars enrolled in the 
program to work (e.g., as graduate assistants) as a condition of 
receiving support (e.g., tuition, stipends) from the proposed project, 
unless the work is specifically related to the acquisition of scholars' 
competencies and the requirements for completion of their personnel 
preparation program. This prohibition on work as a condition of 
receiving support does not apply to the service obligation requirements 
in section 662(h) of IDEA;
    (9) 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 same three-day project directors' 
meetings in Washington, DC;
    (10) 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;
    (11) Ensure that scholar accomplishments (e.g., publications, 
awards) will be reported in annual and final performance reports; and
    (12) Ensure that annual data will be submitted on each scholar who 
receives grant support (OMB Control Number 1820-0686). The primary 
purposes of the data collection are to track the service obligation 
fulfillment of scholars who receive funds from OSEP grants and to 
collect data for program performance measure reporting under the 
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA). Applicants are 
encouraged to visit the Personnel Development Program Data Collection 
System (DCS) Web site at https://pdp.ed.gov/osep 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, although 
grantees may submit data as needed, year round. 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). Data collection includes the 
submission of a signed, completed Pre-Scholarship Agreement and Exit 
Certification for each scholar funded under an OSEP grant (see 
paragraph (4) of this section, subparagraphs (i) and (ii)).

References

Billingsley, B. S., Crockett, J., & Kamman, M. L. (2014). Recruiting 
and retaining teachers and administrators in special education. In 
P. T. Sindelar, E. D.

[[Page 88222]]

McCray, M. T. Brownell, & B. Lignugaris/Kraft (Eds.), Handbook of 
research on special education teacher preparation (pp. 94-112). New 
York, NY: Routledge.
Castillo, J. M., Curtis, M. J., & Tan, S. Y. (2014). Personnel needs 
in school psychology: A 10-year follow-up study on predicted 
personnel shortages. Psychology in the Schools, 51, 832-849.
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 from www.coe.ufl.edu/copsse/docs/IB-8/1/IB-8.pdf.
Montrosse, B. E., & Young, C. J. (2012). Market demand for special 
education faculty. Teacher Education and Special Education, 35, 140-
153.
Robb, S. M., Smith, D. D., & Montrosse, B. E. (2012). A context of 
the demand for special education faculty: A study of special 
education teacher preparation programs. Teacher Education and 
Special Education, 35, 128-139.
Smith, D. D., Montrosse, B. E., Robb, S. M., Tyler, N. C., & Young, 
C. (2011). Assessing trends in leadership: Special education's 
capacity to produce a highly qualified workforce. Claremont, CA: 
IRIS@CGU, Claremont Graduate University.
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, 25-
43.
West, J. E., & Hardman, H. L. (2012). Averting current and future 
special education faculty shortages: Policy implications and 
recommendations. Teacher Education and Special Education, 35, 154-
160.
Woods, J., & Snyder, P. (2009). Interdisciplinary doctoral 
leadership training in early intervention. Infants & Young Children, 
22(1), 32-34.

    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. 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. 1462 and 1481.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 
97, 98, and 99. (b) The Office of Management and Budget Guidelines to 
Agencies on Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 
2 CFR part 180, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department 
in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost 
Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 
200, as adopted and amended as regulations of the Department in 2 CFR 
part 3474. (d) The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 304.

    Note:  The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to IHEs only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested 
$83,700,000 for the Personnel Development to Improve Services and 
Results for Children with Disabilities program for FY 2017, of which we 
intend to use an estimated $3,250,000 for this competition. The actual 
level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action. 
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete 
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
    Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of 
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2018 from the list of 
unfunded applications from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $225,000-$250,000 per year.
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $237,500 per year.
    Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a 
budget exceeding $250,000 for a single budget period of 12 months.
    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: IHEs, private nonprofit organizations.
    2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost 
sharing or matching.
    3. Eligible Subgrantees: (a) Under 34 CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a 
grantee may award subgrants--to directly carry out project activities 
described in its application--to the following types of entities: IHEs 
and private nonprofit organizations suitable to carry out the 
activities proposed in the application.
    (b) The grantee may award subgrants to entities it has identified 
in an approved application.
    4. Other General Requirements:
    (a) Recipients of funding under this competition must make positive 
efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with 
disabilities (see section 606 of IDEA).
    (b) Each applicant for, and recipient of, funding must, with 
respect to the aspects of their proposed project relating to the 
absolute priority, 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 or from the Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs). 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: 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: [email protected].
    If you request an application package from ED Pubs, be sure to 
identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.325D.
    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.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content and form 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 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, reference citations, and captions, as well as 
all text in charts, tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots.
     Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
     Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier, 
Courier

[[Page 88223]]

New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font (including 
Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
    The page limit and double-spacing requirements do 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 abstract (follow the guidance provided in the 
application package for completing the abstract), the table of 
contents, the list of priority requirements, the resumes, the reference 
list, the letters of support, or the appendices. However, the page 
limit and double-spacing requirements do apply to all of Part III, the 
application narrative, including all text in charts, tables, figures, 
graphs, and screen shots.
    We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit in the 
application narrative section, or if you apply standards other than 
those specified in this notice and the application package.
    3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: December 7, 
2016.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: February 6, 2017.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, please refer to Other Submission Requirements in section 
IV 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: April 6, 2017.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition 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. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification 
Number, and System for Award Management: 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 System for Award 
Management (SAM), the Government's primary registrant database;
    c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
    d. Maintain an active SAM 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 at the 
following Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. A DUNS number can be 
created within one to two business days.
    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 two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
    The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business 
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the 
completeness and accuracy of the data you enter into the SAM database. 
Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal financial 
assistance under a program administered by the Department, please allow 
sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number and TIN. We 
strongly recommend that you register early.

    Note:  Once your SAM registration is active, it may be 24 to 48 
hours before you can access the information in, and submit an 
application through, Grants.gov.

    If you are currently registered with SAM, 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 registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
    Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further 
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in 
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov 
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
    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/web/grants/register.html.
    7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.
    a. Electronic Submission of Applications. Applications for grants 
under the Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and 
Related Services Leadership Personnel competition, CFDA number 84.325D, 
must be submitted electronically using 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.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the Preparation 
of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services 
Leadership Personnel competition at www.Grants.gov. You must search for 
the downloadable application package for this competition 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:
     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

[[Page 88224]]

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 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 www.G5.gov. In addition, for specific guidance and 
procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov, please 
refer to the Grants.gov Web site at: www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     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 upload any narrative sections and all other 
attachments to your application as files in a read-only, non-modifiable 
Portable Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or 
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only, 
non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word, Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a 
password-protected file, we will not review that material. Please note 
that this could result in your application not being considered for 
funding because the material in question--for example, the application 
narrative--is critical to a meaningful review of your proposal. For 
that reason it is important to allow yourself adequate time to upload 
all material as PDF files. The Department will not convert material 
from other formats to PDF. 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. Grants.gov 
will also notify you automatically by email if your application met all 
the Grants.gov validation requirements or if there were any errors 
(such as submission of your application by someone other than a 
registered Authorized Organization Representative, or inclusion of an 
attachment with a file name that contains special characters). You will 
be given an opportunity to correct any errors and resubmit, but you 
must still meet the deadline for submission of applications.
    Once your application is successfully validated by Grants.gov, the 
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send you 
an email with a unique PR/Award number for your application.
    These emails do not mean that your application is without any 
disqualifying errors. While your application may have been successfully 
validated by Grants.gov, it must also meet the Department's application 
requirements as specified in this notice and in the application 
instructions. Disqualifying errors could include, for instance, failure 
to upload attachments in a read-only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to 
submit a required part of the application; or failure to meet applicant 
eligibility requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that your 
submitted application has met all of the Department's requirements.
     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 4:30:00 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 4:30:00 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 the 
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. We will 
contact you after we determine 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.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system;
    and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal

[[Page 88225]]

holiday), you mail or fax a written statement to the Department, 
explaining which of the two grounds for an exception prevents you from 
using the Internet to submit your application.
    If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be 
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must 
receive the faxed statement no later than two weeks before the 
application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Celia Rosenquist, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5146, Potomac 
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-5076. FAX: (202) 245-7590.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand-delivery instructions described in this notice.
    b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail. If you qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, you may mail 
(through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier) your 
application to the Department. 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.

    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.

    We will not consider applications postmarked after the application 
deadline date.
    c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery. If you 
qualify for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, you 
(or a courier service) may deliver your paper application to the 
Department by hand. You 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 7039, 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 
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 competition 
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 
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 section 682(b) of 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.
    4. Risk Assessment and Special Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR 
200.205, before awarding grants under this competition the Department 
conducts a review of the risks posed by applicants. Under 2 CFR 
3474.10, the Secretary may impose special conditions and, in 
appropriate circumstances, high risk 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 2 CFR part 200, subpart D; has not 
fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not 
responsible.
    5. Integrity and Performance System: If you are selected under this 
competition to receive an award that over the course of the project 
period may exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (currently 
$150,000), under 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2), we must make a judgment about 
your integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under 
Federal awards--that is, the risk posed by you as an applicant--before 
we make an award. In doing so, we must consider any information about 
you that is in the integrity and performance system (currently referred 
to as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System 
(FAPIIS)), accessible through SAM. You may review and comment on any 
information about yourself that a Federal agency previously entered and 
that is currently in FAPIIS.
    Please note that, if the total value of your currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from the 
Federal Government exceeds $10,000,000, the reporting requirements

[[Page 88226]]

in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, require you to report certain 
integrity information to FAPIIS semiannually. Please review the 
requirements in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant plus all 
the other Federal funds you receive exceed $10,000,000.

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); or we may send you an email containing a link to 
access an electronic version of your 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 multiyear 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 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 preparation programs that incorporate 
scientifically or evidence-based practices into their curricula; (2) 
the percentage of scholars completing preparation programs who are 
knowledgeable and skilled in evidence-based practices for children with 
disabilities; (3) the percentage of scholars who exit preparation 
programs prior to completion due to poor academic performance; (4) the 
percentage of scholars completing preparation programs who are working 
in the area(s) in which they were prepared upon program completion; and 
(5) the Federal cost per scholar who completed the preparation program.
    In addition, the Department will gather information on the 
following outcome measures: (1) The percentage of scholars who 
completed the preparation program and are employed in high-need 
districts; (2) the percentage of scholars who completed the preparation 
program and are employed in the field of special education for at least 
two years; and (3) the percentage of scholars who completed the 
preparation program and who are rated effective by their employers.
    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 under 34 CFR 
75.253, the Secretary considers, among other things: Whether a grantee 
has made substantial progress in achieving the goals and objectives of 
the project; whether the grantee has expended funds in a manner that is 
consistent with its approved application and budget; and, if the 
Secretary has established performance measurement requirements, the 
performance targets in the grantee's approved application.
    In making a continuation award, 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., Room 5146, Potomac Center Plaza, 
Washington, DC 20202-5076. 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 Management Support Services Team, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5113, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 
20202-2500. 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.thefederalregister.org/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 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: December 2, 2016.
Sue Swenson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services, delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties 
of the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2016-29371 Filed 12-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P



                                                    88218                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / Notices

                                                    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION                                 data in the desired format. ED is                     preparation for the national data
                                                                                                            soliciting comments on the proposed                   collection, referred to as the Main
                                                    [Docket No.: ED–2016–ICCD–0137]
                                                                                                            information collection request (ICR) that             Study, the data collection instruments
                                                    Agency Information Collection                           is described below. The Department of                 and procedures must be field tested. An
                                                    Activities; Submission to the Office of                 Education is especially interested in                 Item Validation Field Test (IVFT) was
                                                    Management and Budget for Review                        public comment addressing the                         conducted in the winter/spring 2016 to
                                                    and Approval; Comment Request;                          following issues: (1) Is this collection              determine the psychometric properties
                                                    Middle Grades Longitudinal Study of                     necessary to the proper functions of the              of items and the predictive potential of
                                                    2017–18 (MGLS: 2017) Operational                        Department; (2) will this information be              assessment and survey items so that
                                                    Field Test (OFT) and Recruitment for                    processed and used in a timely manner;                valid, reliable, and useful assessment
                                                    Main Study Base-Year Study                              (3) is the estimate of burden accurate;               and survey instruments can be
                                                                                                            (4) how might the Department enhance                  composed for the Main Study. An
                                                    AGENCY:   National Center for Education                 the quality, utility, and clarity of the              Operational Field Test (OFT) will begin
                                                    Statistics (NCES), Department of                        information to be collected; and (5) how              in January 2017 to test the near final
                                                    Education (ED).                                         might the Department minimize the                     instruments and the recruitment and
                                                    ACTION: Notice.                                         burden of this collection on the                      data collection processes and
                                                                                                            respondents, including through the use                procedures in preparation for the Main
                                                    SUMMARY:    In accordance with the                      of information technology. Please note                Study. OMB approved the recruitment
                                                    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44                     that written comments received in                     of schools, school districts, and parents
                                                    U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is                     response to this notice will be                       to participate in the OFT in December
                                                    proposing a revision of an existing                     considered public records.                            2015 with the latest change request
                                                    information collection.                                    Title of Collection: Middle Grades                 approved in March 2016 (OMB# 1850–
                                                    DATES: Interested persons are invited to                Longitudinal Study of 2017–18 (MGLS:                  0911 v.6,9,10). The request to conduct
                                                    submit comments on or before January                    2017) Operational Field Test (OFT) and                the OFT data collection, Main Study
                                                    6, 2017.                                                Recruitment for Main Study Base-year                  recruitment, and tracking of OFT
                                                    ADDRESSES: To access and review all the                 Study.                                                students is currently under review at
                                                    documents related to the information                       OMB Control Number: 1850–0911.                     OMB (OMB# 1850–0911 v.11), with
                                                    collection listed in this notice, please                   Type of Review: A revision of an                   expected approval in early December
                                                    use http://www.regulations.gov by                       existing information collection.                      2016. This request is to modify language
                                                                                                               Respondents/Affected Public:
                                                    searching the Docket ID number ED–                                                                            in the parent contacting materials, the
                                                                                                            Individuals or Households.
                                                    2016–ICCD–0137. Comments submitted                         Total Estimated Number of Annual                   video introductory script for the student
                                                    in response to this notice should be                    Responses: 34,952.                                    session, and the study questionnaires
                                                    submitted electronically through the                       Total Estimated Number of Annual                   (student, parent, math teacher, special
                                                    Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://                   Burden Hours: 17,391.                                 education teacher, school administrator,
                                                    www.regulations.gov by selecting the                       Abstract: The Middle Grades                        and facilities observation checklist).
                                                    Docket ID number or via postal mail,                    Longitudinal Study of 2017–18                         These changes are driven by the
                                                    commercial delivery, or hand delivery.                  (MGLS:2017) is the first study                        recently completed analyses of IVFT
                                                    Please note that comments submitted by                  conducted by the National Center for                  results. The data collection for the OFT
                                                    fax or email and those submitted after                  Education Statistics (NCES) to follow a               will begin January 23, 2017. Main Study
                                                    the comment period will not be                          nationally-representative sample of                   recruitment will also commence in
                                                    accepted. Written requests for                          students as they enter and move through               January 2017.
                                                    information or comments submitted by                    the middle grades (grades 6–8). The data                Dated: December 2, 2016.
                                                    postal mail or delivery should be                       collected through repeated measures of                Kate Mullan,
                                                    addressed to the Director of the                        key constructs will provide a rich                    Acting Director, Information Collection
                                                    Information Collection Clearance                        descriptive picture of the academic                   Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
                                                    Division, U.S. Department of Education,                 experiences and development of                        Officer, Office of Management.
                                                    400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room                      students during these critical years and              [FR Doc. 2016–29327 Filed 12–6–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    2E–347, Washington, DC 20202–4537.                      will allow researchers to examine                     BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For                    associations between contextual factors
                                                    specific questions related to collection                and student outcomes. The study will
                                                    activities, please contact NCES                         focus on student achievement in                       DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
                                                    Information Collections at                              mathematics and literacy along with
                                                    NCES.Information.Collections@ed.gov.                    measures of student socioemotional                    Applications for New Awards;
                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                          wellbeing and other outcomes. The                     Personnel Development To Improve
                                                    Department of Education (ED), in                        study will also include a special sample              Services and Results for Children With
                                                    accordance with the Paperwork                           of students with different types of                   Disabilities—Preparation of Special
                                                    Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.                  disabilities that will provide descriptive            Education, Early Intervention, and
                                                    3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general                    information on their outcomes,                        Related Services Leadership
                                                    public and Federal agencies with an                     educational experiences, and special                  Personnel
                                                    opportunity to comment on proposed,                     education services. Main Study Base-
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                  AGENCY:  Office of Special Education and
                                                    revised, and continuing collections of                  year data for the MGLS:2017 will be                   Rehabilitative Services, Department of
                                                    information. This helps the Department                  collected from a nationally-                          Education.
                                                    assess the impact of its information                    representative sample of 6th grade                    ACTION: Notice.
                                                    collection requirements and minimize                    students beginning in January 2018,
                                                    the public’s reporting burden. It also                  with annual follow-ups beginning in                     Overview Information: Personnel
                                                    helps the public understand the                         January 2019 and in January 2020 when                 Development to Improve Services and
                                                    Department’s information collection                     most of the students in the sample will               Results for Children with Disabilities—
                                                    requirements and provide the requested                  be in grades 7 and 8, respectively. In                Preparation of Special Education, Early


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / Notices                                                     88219

                                                    Intervention, and Related Services                      leadership positions in special                       children with disabilities, including
                                                    Leadership Personnel                                    education, early intervention, and                    high-need children with disabilities.1
                                                      Notice inviting applications for a new                related services (Castillo, Curtis, & Tan,              Priority: The purpose of the
                                                    award for fiscal year (FY) 2017.                        2014; Montrosse & Young, 2012; Robb,                  Preparation of Special Education, Early
                                                      Catalog of Federal Domestic                           Smith, & Montrosse, 2012; Smith,                      Intervention, and Related Services
                                                    Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.325D.                      Montrosse, Robb, Tyler, & Young, 2011;                Leadership Personnel priority is to
                                                    DATES: Applications Available:                          Smith, Robb, West, & Tyler, 2010;                     support pre-existing doctoral degree
                                                    December 7, 2016.                                       Woods & Snyder, 2009). These leaders                  programs that prepare special
                                                      Deadline for Transmittal of                           conduct research to increase the                      education, early intervention, and
                                                    Applications: February 6, 2017.                         knowledge of effective interventions                  related services personnel who are well-
                                                      Deadline for Intergovernmental                        and services for children and youth                   qualified for, and can act effectively in,
                                                    Review: April 6, 2017.                                  with disabilities. These leaders also                 leadership positions as researchers and
                                                                                                            teach practices supported by evidence                 special education/early intervention/
                                                    Full Text of Announcement                                                                                     related services personnel preparers in
                                                                                                            to future special education, early
                                                    I. Funding Opportunity Description                      intervention, and related services                    IHEs, or as leaders in national
                                                       Purpose of Program: The purposes of                  professionals who will work in a variety              organizations, SEAs, LAs, LEAs, or EIS
                                                    this program are to (1) help address                    of educational settings and provide                   programs. This priority supports two
                                                    State-identified needs for personnel                    services directly to these children (Robb             types of programs:
                                                    preparation in special education, early                 et al., 2012; Smith et al., 2010; West &                Type A programs are designed to
                                                    intervention, related services, and                     Hardman, 2012). Shortages in these                    prepare special education, early
                                                    regular education to work with children,                leadership positions could limit the                  intervention, and related services
                                                    including infants and toddlers, with                    field’s capacity to generate new                      personnel as researchers and personnel
                                                    disabilities; and (2) ensure that those                 knowledge of effective interventions                  preparers in IHEs. Type A programs
                                                    personnel have the necessary skills and                 and to prepare future professionals to                culminate in a doctoral degree.
                                                    knowledge, derived from practices that                  improve outcomes for children with                       Note: Preparation programs that lead to
                                                    have been determined through                            disabilities (Smith et al., 2011).                    clinical doctoral degrees in related services
                                                    scientifically based research and                                                                             (e.g., a Doctor of Audiology degree or Doctor
                                                                                                               Shortages of leadership personnel at               of Physical Therapy degree) are not included
                                                    experience, to be successful in serving                 State and local agencies to fill special              in this priority. These types of preparation
                                                    those children.                                         education and early intervention                      programs are eligible to apply for funding
                                                       Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR                  administrator positions have also been                under the Personnel Preparation in Special
                                                    75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority is from                  noted (Billingsley, Crockett, & Kamman,               Education, Early Intervention, and Related
                                                    allowable activities specified in the                   2014). These administrators supervise                 Services priority (CFDA 84.325K) that the
                                                    statute (see sections 662 and 681 of the                and evaluate the implementation of                    Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
                                                    Individuals with Disabilities Education                                                                       intends to fund in FY 2017.
                                                                                                            instructional programs supported by
                                                    Act (IDEA); 20 U.S.C. 1462 and 20                       evidence to make sure that State or local               Type B programs are designed to
                                                    U.S.C. 1481).                                           agencies are meeting the needs of                     prepare special education or early
                                                       Absolute Priority: For FY 2017 and                   children with disabilities.                           intervention administrators to work as
                                                    any subsequent year in which we make                    Administrators also ensure that schools               leaders in national organizations, SEAs,
                                                    awards from the list of unfunded                        and programs meet Federal, State, and                 LAs, LEAs, or EIS programs. Type B
                                                    applications from this competition, this                local requirements for special                        programs prepare personnel for
                                                    priority is an absolute priority. Under 34              education, early intervention, and                    positions such as SEA special education
                                                    CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only                      related services (Lashley & Boscardin,                administrators, LEA or regional special
                                                    applications that meet this priority.                   2003).                                                education directors, school-based
                                                       This priority is:                                                                                          special education directors, including
                                                       Preparation of Special Education,                       Federal support can increase the
                                                                                                            supply of personnel who have the                      those in youth correctional facilities,
                                                    Early Intervention, and Related Services                                                                      preschool coordinators, and early
                                                    Leadership Personnel.                                   necessary knowledge and skills to
                                                                                                            assume leadership positions in special                intervention coordinators. Type B
                                                       Background: The purpose of the                                                                             programs culminate in a doctoral
                                                    Preparation of Special Education, Early                 education, early intervention, and
                                                                                                            related services as researchers and                   degree.
                                                    Intervention, and Related Services
                                                    Leadership Personnel priority is to                     special education/early intervention/                    Note: The preparation of school principals
                                                                                                            related services personnel preparers in               is not included in this priority.
                                                    support existing doctoral degree
                                                    programs that prepare special                           IHEs, or as leaders in national
                                                                                                                                                                    Note: Applicants must identify the specific
                                                    education, early intervention, and                      organizations, SEAs, LAs, LEAs, EIS                   program type, A or B, for which they are
                                                    related services personnel who are well-                programs, or schools. Critical                        applying for funding as part of the abstract.
                                                    qualified for, and can act effectively in,              competencies for special education,                   Applicants may not submit the same
                                                    leadership positions as researchers and                 early intervention, and related services              proposal for more than one program type.
                                                    special education/early intervention/                   personnel vary depending on the type of
                                                                                                                                                                     To be considered for funding under
                                                    related services personnel preparers in                 personnel and the requirements of the
                                                                                                                                                                  the Preparation of Special Education,
                                                    institutions of higher education (IHEs),                preparation program but can include,
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                                                                                                                                                                  Early Intervention, and Related Services
                                                    or as leaders in national organizations,                for example, skills needed for
                                                                                                                                                                  Leadership Personnel absolute priority,
                                                    State educational agencies (SEAs), lead                 postsecondary instruction,
                                                                                                                                                                  all program applicants must meet the
                                                    agencies (LAs), local educational                       administration, policy development,
                                                                                                                                                                  application requirements contained in
                                                    agencies (LEAs), early intervention                     professional practice, leadership, or
                                                                                                                                                                  the priority. All projects funded under
                                                    services programs (EIS programs), or                    research. However, all leadership
                                                                                                                                                                  this absolute priority also must meet the
                                                    schools.                                                personnel need to have current
                                                       There is a well-documented need for                  knowledge of effective interventions                    1 For a definition of ‘‘high-need children with

                                                    leadership personnel to fill faculty and                and services that improve outcomes for                disabilities,’’ please see footnote 2.



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                                                    88220                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / Notices

                                                    programmatic and administrative                            knowledge of technologies designed to               professional practice, leadership, or
                                                    requirements specified in the priority.                    provide instruction. To address this                research in special education, early
                                                       The requirements of this priority are                   requirement, the applicant must—                    intervention, or related services;
                                                    as follows:                                                   (i) Identify the competencies needed                (ii) Describe how the components of
                                                       (a) Demonstrate, in the narrative                       by leadership personnel in                          the project are integrated in order to
                                                    section of the application under                           postsecondary instruction,                          support the acquisition and
                                                    ‘‘Significance of the Project,’’ how—                      administration, policy development,                 enhancement of the identified
                                                       (1) The project addresses national,                     professional practice, leadership, or               competencies needed by leadership
                                                    State, regional, or district needs for                     research in order to administer                     personnel in special education, early
                                                    leadership personnel to administer                         programs or provide, or prepare others              intervention, or related services,
                                                    programs or provide, or prepare others                     to provide, interventions and services              including knowledge of technologies
                                                    to provide, interventions and services                     that improve outcomes of children with              designed to provide instruction;
                                                    that improve outcomes of children with                     disabilities, ages birth through 21,                   (iii) Describe how the components of
                                                    disabilities, ages birth through 21,                       including high-need children with                   the project prepare scholars to
                                                    including high-need children with                          disabilities; and                                   administer programs or provide, or
                                                    disabilities.2 To address this                                (ii) Provide the conceptual framework            prepare others to provide, interventions
                                                    requirement, the applicant must—                           of the leadership preparation program,              and services that are supported by
                                                       (i) Present appropriate and applicable                  including any empirical support, that               evidence to improve outcomes,
                                                    data (e.g., national, State) demonstrating                 will promote the acquisition of the                 including college- and career-readiness,
                                                    the need for the leadership personnel                      identified competencies needed by                   of children with disabilities in a variety
                                                    the applicant proposes to prepare; and                     leadership personnel, including                     of settings, including in high-need
                                                       (ii) Present data demonstrating the                     knowledge of technologies designed to               LEAs; 3 high-poverty schools; 4 low-
                                                    effectiveness of the doctoral program to                   provide instruction, and, where                     performing schools; 5 priority schools
                                                    date in producing leaders in special                       applicable, how these competencies                  (in the case of States that have received
                                                    education, early intervention, or related                  relate to the project’s specialized                 the Department of Education’s
                                                    services such as: the professional                         preparation area.                                   (Department’s) approval of a request for
                                                    accomplishments of program graduates                          (b) Demonstrate, in the narrative                ESEA flexibility); 6 and early childhood
                                                    (e.g., public service, honors, or                          section of the application under                    programs located within the
                                                    publications) that demonstrate their                       ‘‘Quality of the Project Services,’’ how—           geographical boundaries of a high-need
                                                    leadership in special education, early                        (1) The applicant will recruit and               LEA;
                                                    intervention, or related services; the                     support high-quality scholars. The                     (iv) Demonstrate, through a letter of
                                                    effectiveness of program graduates as                      narrative must—                                     support from a partnering agency,
                                                    educators of teachers, service providers,                     (i) Describe the selection criteria the          school, or program, that there is an
                                                    or administrators, including any results                   applicant will use to identify high-                agreement with one or more high-need
                                                    from evaluating the impact of those                        quality applicants for admission in the             LEAs; publicly funded preschool
                                                    teachers, service providers, or                            program;                                            programs, including Head Start
                                                    administrators on the outcomes of                             (ii) Describe the recruitment strategies         programs, located within the geographic
                                                    children with disabilities; the average                    the applicant will use to attract high-             boundaries of a high-need LEA; or
                                                    amount of time it takes for program                        quality applicants and any specific                 programs serving children eligible for
                                                    graduates to complete the program; the                     recruitment strategies targeting high-              services under Part C or Part B, section
                                                    number of program graduates; and the                       quality applicants from traditionally               619 of IDEA located within the
                                                    percentage of program graduates finding                    underrepresented groups, including
                                                    employment directly related to their                       individuals with disabilities; and                     3 For the purposes of this priority, the term ‘‘high-

                                                                                                                  (iii) Describe the approach the                  need LEA’’ means an LEA (a) that serves not fewer
                                                    preparation.                                                                                                   than 10,000 children from families with incomes
                                                                                                               applicant will use to help all scholars,            below the poverty line; or (b) for which not less
                                                       Note: Data on the effectiveness of a                    including individuals with disabilities,            than 20 percent of the children served by the LEA
                                                    doctoral program should be no older than                   complete the program; and                           are from families with incomes below the poverty
                                                    five years prior to the start date of the project             (2) The project is designed to promote           line.
                                                    proposed in the application. When reporting                                                                       4 For the purposes of this priority, the term ‘‘high-
                                                    percentages, the denominator (i.e., the total
                                                                                                               the acquisition of the competencies
                                                                                                                                                                   poverty school’’ means a school that is in the
                                                    number of scholars or program graduates)                   needed by leadership personnel to                   highest two quartiles of schools served by an LEA,
                                                    must be provided.                                          administer programs or provide, or                  based on the percentage of enrolled students from
                                                                                                               prepare others to provide, interventions            low-income families as defined in section
                                                      (2) Scholar competencies to be                           and services supported by evidence to               1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary
                                                    acquired in the program relate to                          improve outcomes, including college-
                                                                                                                                                                   Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA).
                                                                                                                                                                      5 For the purposes of this priority, the term ‘‘low-
                                                    knowledge and skills needed by the                         and career-readiness of children with               performing school’’ means a school receiving
                                                    leadership personnel the applicant                         disabilities. To address this                       assistance through Title I of the ESEA that, at the
                                                    proposes to prepare, including                             requirement, the applicant must—                    time of submission of an application under this
                                                                                                                  (i) Describe how the components of               competition, is (1) identified as a school in need of
                                                       2 For purposes of this priority, ‘‘high-need                                                                corrective action or restructuring under section
                                                    children with disabilities’’ refers to children (ages
                                                                                                               the project, such as coursework,                    1116 of the ESEA, as amended by the No Child Left
                                                    birth through 21, depending on the State) who are          internship or practicum experiences,                Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB); or (2) identified as a
                                                                                                               research requirements, and other                    priority or focus school in a State that implemented
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                                                    eligible for services under IDEA, and who may be
                                                    further disadvantaged and at risk of educational           opportunities provided to scholars to               ESEA flexibility. The inclusion of these schools as
                                                    failure because they: (1) Are living in poverty, (2)                                                           ‘‘low-performing schools’’ reflects the fact that the
                                                    are far below grade level, (3) are at risk of not
                                                                                                               analyze data, critique research and                 2016–2017 school year is a year of transition
                                                    graduating with a regular high school diploma on           methodologies, and practice newly                   between requirements of the ESEA as amended by
                                                    time, (4) are homeless, (5) are in foster care, (6) have   acquired knowledge and skills, will                 the NCLB and the ESEA as amended by the Every
                                                    been incarcerated, (7) are English learners, (8) are       enable the scholars to acquire the                  Student Succeeds Act.
                                                    pregnant or parenting teenagers, (9) are new                                                                      6 For the purposes of this priority, the term

                                                    immigrants, (10) are migrant, or (11) are not on
                                                                                                               competencies needed by leadership                   ‘‘priority school’’ means a school that has been
                                                    track to being college- or career-ready by                 personnel for postsecondary instruction,            identified by the State as a priority school pursuant
                                                    graduation.                                                administration, policy development,                 to the State’s approved request for ESEA flexibility.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / Notices                                                88221

                                                    geographic boundaries of a high-need                    and practical considerations in the use of            a condition of receiving support (e.g.,
                                                    LEA, that it will provide scholars with                 data on early learning outcomes, student              tuition, stipends) from the proposed
                                                    a high-quality internship or practicum                  achievement, or growth in student                     project, unless the work is specifically
                                                    experience in a school in a high-need                   achievement to evaluate the effectiveness of          related to the acquisition of scholars’
                                                                                                            early intervention providers, related services
                                                    LEA, publicly funded preschool, or                      providers, teachers, or principals.
                                                                                                                                                                  competencies and the requirements for
                                                    early intervention program;                                                                                   completion of their personnel
                                                       (v) Describe how the project will use                   (2) Ensure that the proposed number                preparation program. This prohibition
                                                    resources, as appropriate, available                    of scholars to be recruited into the                  on work as a condition of receiving
                                                    through technical assistance centers,                   program can graduate from the program                 support does not apply to the service
                                                    which may include centers funded by                     by the end of the grant’s project period.             obligation requirements in section
                                                    the Department; and                                     The described scholar recruitment                     662(h) of IDEA;
                                                       (vi) Describe the approach that faculty              strategies, including recruitment of                     (9) Ensure that the budget includes
                                                    members will use to mentor scholars                     individuals with disabilities, the                    attendance of the project director at a
                                                    with the goal of helping them acquire                   program components and their                          three-day project directors’ meeting in
                                                    competencies needed by leadership                       sequence, and proposed budget must be                 Washington, DC, during each year of the
                                                    personnel and promote career goals in                   consistent with this project requirement;             project. The budget may also provide for
                                                    special education, early intervention, or                  (3) Ensure scholars will not be                    the attendance of scholars at the same
                                                    related services.                                       selected based on race or national                    three-day project directors’ meetings in
                                                       (c) Demonstrate, in the narrative                    origin/ethnicity. Per the Supreme                     Washington, DC;
                                                    section of the application under                        Court’s decision in Adarand                              (10) Ensure that if the project
                                                    ‘‘Quality of the Project Evaluation,’’                  Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, 515 U.S. 200              maintains a Web site, relevant
                                                    how—                                                    (1995), the Department does not allow                 information and documents are in a
                                                       (1) The applicant will evaluate how                  the selection of individuals on the basis             format that meets government or
                                                    well the goals or objectives of the                     of race or national origin/ethnicity. For             industry-recognized standards for
                                                    proposed leadership project have been                   this reason, grantees must ensure that                accessibility;
                                                    met. The applicant must describe the                    any discussion of the recruitment of                     (11) Ensure that scholar
                                                    outcomes to be measured for both the                    scholars based on race or national                    accomplishments (e.g., publications,
                                                    project and the scholars, particularly the              origin/ethnicity distinguishes between                awards) will be reported in annual and
                                                    acquisition of scholar competencies and                 increasing the pool of applicants and                 final performance reports; and
                                                    their impact on the services provided by                actually selecting scholars;                             (12) Ensure that annual data will be
                                                    future teachers, service providers, or                     (4) Ensure that the project will meet              submitted on each scholar who receives
                                                    administrators; and the evaluation                      the requirements in 34 CFR 304.23,                    grant support (OMB Control Number
                                                    methodologies to be employed,                           particularly those related to informing               1820–0686). The primary purposes of
                                                    including proposed instruments, data                    all scholarship recipients of their                   the data collection are to track the
                                                    collection methods, and possible                        service obligation commitment. Failure                service obligation fulfillment of scholars
                                                    analyses;                                               by a grantee to properly meet these                   who receive funds from OSEP grants
                                                       (2) The applicant will collect, analyze,             requirements is a violation of the grant              and to collect data for program
                                                    and use data on current scholars and                    award that may result in sanctions,                   performance measure reporting under
                                                    scholars who graduate from the program                  including the grantee being liable for                the Government Performance and
                                                    to improve the proposed program on an                   returning any misused funds to the                    Results Act of 1993 (GPRA). Applicants
                                                    ongoing basis; and                                      Department. Specifically, the grantee                 are encouraged to visit the Personnel
                                                       (3) The applicant will report the                    must prepare, and ensure that each                    Development Program Data Collection
                                                    evaluation results to OSEP in its annual                scholarship recipient signs, the                      System (DCS) Web site at https://
                                                    and final performance reports.                          following two documents:                              pdp.ed.gov/osep for further information
                                                       (d) Demonstrate, in the narrative                       (i) A Pre-Scholarship Agreement prior              about this data collection requirement.
                                                    under ‘‘Required Project Assurances,’’                  to the scholar receiving a scholarship for            Typically, data collection begins in
                                                    or appendices as directed, that the                     an eligible program (Office of                        January of each year, and grantees are
                                                    following program requirements are                      Management and Budget (OMB) Control                   notified by email about the data
                                                    met. The applicant must—                                Number 1820–0686); and                                collection period for their grant,
                                                       (1) Include in the application                          (ii) An Exit Certification immediately             although grantees may submit data as
                                                    appendix—                                               upon the scholar leaving, completing, or              needed, year round. This data collection
                                                       (i) Course syllabi for all coursework in             otherwise exiting that program (OMB                   must be submitted electronically by the
                                                    the major and any required coursework                   Control Number 1820–0686);                            grantee and does not supplant the
                                                    for a minor;                                               (5) Ensure that prior approval from                annual grant performance report
                                                       (ii) Course syllabi for all research                 the OSEP project officer will be                      required of each grantee for
                                                    methods, evaluation methods, or data                    obtained before admitting additional                  continuation funding (see 34 CFR
                                                    analysis courses required by the degree                 scholars beyond the number of scholars                75.590). Data collection includes the
                                                    program and elective research methods,                  proposed in the application and before                submission of a signed, completed Pre-
                                                    evaluation methods, or data analysis                    transferring a scholar to another                     Scholarship Agreement and Exit
                                                    courses that have been completed by                     preparation program funded by OSEP;                   Certification for each scholar funded
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                                                    more than one scholar enrolled in the                      (6) Ensure that the project will meet              under an OSEP grant (see paragraph (4)
                                                    program in the last five years; and                     the statutory requirements in section                 of this section, subparagraphs (i) and
                                                       (iii) For new coursework, proposed                   662(e) through 662(h) of IDEA;                        (ii)).
                                                    syllabi;                                                   (7) Ensure that at least 65 percent of
                                                                                                            the total requested budget over the five              References
                                                      Note: Applicants for Type B programs
                                                    should provide a syllabus or syllabi for                years will be used for scholar support;               Billingsley, B. S., Crockett, J., & Kamman, M.
                                                    current or proposed courses that provide                   (8) Ensure that the IHE will not                        L. (2014). Recruiting and retaining
                                                    instruction on, or permit practice with,                require scholars enrolled in the program                   teachers and administrators in special
                                                    research and the methodological, statistical,           to work (e.g., as graduate assistants) as                  education. In P. T. Sindelar, E. D.



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                                                    88222                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / Notices

                                                        McCray, M. T. Brownell, & B. Lignugaris/            part 3485. (c) The Uniform                              (b) Each applicant for, and recipient
                                                        Kraft (Eds.), Handbook of research on               Administrative Requirements, Cost                     of, funding must, with respect to the
                                                        special education teacher preparation               Principles, and Audit Requirements for                aspects of their proposed project
                                                        (pp. 94–112). New York, NY: Routledge.              Federal Awards in 2 CFR part 200, as                  relating to the absolute priority, involve
                                                    Castillo, J. M., Curtis, M. J., & Tan, S. Y.
                                                        (2014). Personnel needs in school
                                                                                                            adopted and amended as regulations of                 individuals with disabilities, or parents
                                                        psychology: A 10-year follow-up study               the Department in 2 CFR part 3474. (d)                of individuals with disabilities ages
                                                        on predicted personnel shortages.                   The regulations for this program in 34                birth through 26, in planning,
                                                        Psychology in the Schools, 51, 832–849.             CFR part 304.                                         implementing, and evaluating the
                                                    Lashley, C., & Boscardin, M. L. (2003).                   Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86             project (see section 682(a)(1)(A) of
                                                        Special education administration at the             apply to IHEs only.                                   IDEA).
                                                        crossroads: Availability, licensure, and
                                                        preparation of special education                                                                          IV. Application and Submission
                                                                                                            II. Award Information                                 Information
                                                        administrators. Gainesville, FL: Center
                                                        on Personnel Studies in Special                        Type of Award: Discretionary grants.                  1. Address to Request Application
                                                        Education, University of Florida.                      Estimated Available Funds: The                     Package: You can obtain an application
                                                        Retrieved from www.coe.ufl.edu/copsse/              Administration has requested
                                                        docs/IB-8/1/IB-8.pdf.                                                                                     package via the Internet or from the
                                                                                                            $83,700,000 for the Personnel                         Education Publications Center (ED
                                                    Montrosse, B. E., & Young, C. J. (2012).                Development to Improve Services and
                                                        Market demand for special education                                                                       Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet,
                                                                                                            Results for Children with Disabilities                use the following address: www.ed.gov/
                                                        faculty. Teacher Education and Special
                                                        Education, 35, 140–153.
                                                                                                            program for FY 2017, of which we                      fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html.
                                                    Robb, S. M., Smith, D. D., & Montrosse, B. E.           intend to use an estimated $3,250,000                 To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write,
                                                        (2012). A context of the demand for                 for this competition. The actual level of             fax, or call: ED Pubs, U.S. Department
                                                        special education faculty: A study of               funding, if any, depends on final                     of Education, P.O. Box 22207,
                                                        special education teacher preparation               congressional action. However, we are                 Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll
                                                        programs. Teacher Education and                     inviting applications to allow enough
                                                        Special Education, 35, 128–139.                                                                           free: 1–877–433–7827. FAX: (703) 605–
                                                                                                            time to complete the grant process if                 6794. If you use a telecommunications
                                                    Smith, D. D., Montrosse, B. E., Robb, S. M.,            Congress appropriates funds for this
                                                        Tyler, N. C., & Young, C. (2011).                                                                         device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
                                                                                                            program.                                              telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 1–877–
                                                        Assessing trends in leadership: Special
                                                                                                               Contingent upon the availability of
                                                        education’s capacity to produce a highly                                                                  576–7734.
                                                        qualified workforce. Claremont, CA:                 funds and the quality of applications,                   You can contact ED Pubs at its Web
                                                        IRIS@CGU, Claremont Graduate                        we may make additional awards in FY                   site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at its
                                                        University.                                         2018 from the list of unfunded                        email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
                                                    Smith, D. D., Robb, S. M., West, J., & Tyler,           applications from this competition.                      If you request an application package
                                                        N. C. (2010). The changing education                   Estimated Range of Awards:                         from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this
                                                        landscape: How special education                    $225,000–$250,000 per year.                           competition as follows: CFDA number
                                                        leadership preparation can make a                      Estimated Average Size of Awards:
                                                        difference for teachers and their students                                                                84.325D.
                                                                                                            $237,500 per year.                                       Individuals with disabilities can
                                                        with disabilities. Teacher Education and               Maximum Award: We will reject any
                                                        Special Education, 33, 25–43.                                                                             obtain a copy of the application package
                                                                                                            application that proposes a budget                    in an accessible format (e.g., braille,
                                                    West, J. E., & Hardman, H. L. (2012). Averting
                                                                                                            exceeding $250,000 for a single budget                large print, audiotape, or compact disc)
                                                        current and future special education
                                                        faculty shortages: Policy implications              period of 12 months.                                  by contacting the person or team listed
                                                        and recommendations. Teacher                           Estimated Number of Awards: 13.
                                                                                                                                                                  under Accessible Format in section VIII
                                                        Education and Special Education, 35,                  Note: The Department is not bound by any            of this notice.
                                                        154–160.                                            estimates in this notice.                                2. Content and Form of Application
                                                    Woods, J., & Snyder, P. (2009).                                                                               Submission: Requirements concerning
                                                        Interdisciplinary doctoral leadership                 Project Period: Up to 60 months.
                                                        training in early intervention. Infants &
                                                                                                                                                                  the content and form of an application,
                                                                                                            III. Eligibility Information                          together with the forms you must
                                                        Young Children, 22(1), 32–34.
                                                                                                               1. Eligible Applicants: IHEs, private              submit, are in the application package
                                                      Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking:                        nonprofit organizations.                              for this competition. Page Limit: The
                                                    Under the Administrative Procedure Act                     2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This                  application narrative (Part III of the
                                                    (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553) the Department                     program does not require cost sharing or              application) is where you, the applicant,
                                                    generally offers interested parties the                 matching.                                             address the selection criteria that
                                                    opportunity to comment on proposed                         3. Eligible Subgrantees: (a) Under 34              reviewers use to evaluate your
                                                    priorities. Section 681(d) of IDEA,                     CFR 75.708(b) and (c) a grantee may                   application. You must limit Part III to
                                                    however, makes the public comment                       award subgrants—to directly carry out                 no more than 50 pages, using the
                                                    requirements of the APA inapplicable to                 project activities described in its                   following standards:
                                                    the priority in this notice.                            application—to the following types of                    • A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side
                                                      Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1462                     entities: IHEs and private nonprofit                  only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
                                                    and 1481.                                               organizations suitable to carry out the               and both sides.
                                                      Applicable Regulations: (a) The                       activities proposed in the application.                  • Double-space (no more than three
                                                    Education Department General
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                                                                                                               (b) The grantee may award subgrants                lines per vertical inch) all text in the
                                                    Administrative Regulations in 34 CFR                    to entities it has identified in an                   application narrative, including titles,
                                                    parts 75, 77, 79, 81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98,               approved application.                                 headings, footnotes, quotations,
                                                    and 99. (b) The Office of Management                       4. Other General Requirements:                     reference citations, and captions, as well
                                                    and Budget Guidelines to Agencies on                       (a) Recipients of funding under this               as all text in charts, tables, figures,
                                                    Governmentwide Debarment and                            competition must make positive efforts                graphs, and screen shots.
                                                    Suspension (Nonprocurement) in 2 CFR                    to employ and advance in employment                      • Use a font that is 12 point or larger.
                                                    part 180, as adopted and amended as                     qualified individuals with disabilities                  • Use one of the following fonts:
                                                    regulations of the Department in 2 CFR                  (see section 606 of IDEA).                            Times New Roman, Courier, Courier


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / Notices                                            88223

                                                    New, or Arial. An application submitted                    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference              we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet,
                                                    in any other font (including Times                      regulations outlining funding                         which you can find at: www2.ed.gov/
                                                    Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be                      restrictions in the Applicable                        fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
                                                    accepted.                                               Regulations section of this notice.                      In addition, if you are submitting your
                                                       The page limit and double-spacing                       6. Data Universal Numbering System                 application via Grants.gov, you must (1)
                                                    requirements do not apply to Part I, the                Number, Taxpayer Identification                       be designated by your organization as an
                                                    cover sheet; Part II, the budget section,               Number, and System for Award                          Authorized Organization Representative
                                                    including the narrative budget                          Management: To do business with the                   (AOR); and (2) register yourself with
                                                    justification; Part IV, the assurances and              Department of Education, you must—                    Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these
                                                    certifications; or the abstract (follow the                a. Have a Data Universal Numbering                 steps are outlined at the following
                                                    guidance provided in the application                    System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer                   Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/
                                                    package for completing the abstract), the               Identification Number (TIN);                          web/grants/register.html.
                                                    table of contents, the list of priority                    b. Register both your DUNS number                     7. Other Submission Requirements:
                                                    requirements, the resumes, the reference                and TIN with the System for Award                     Applications for grants under this
                                                    list, the letters of support, or the                    Management (SAM), the Government’s                    competition must be submitted
                                                    appendices. However, the page limit                     primary registrant database;                          electronically unless you qualify for an
                                                    and double-spacing requirements do                         c. Provide your DUNS number and                    exception to this requirement in
                                                    apply to all of Part III, the application               TIN on your application; and                          accordance with the instructions in this
                                                    narrative, including all text in charts,                   d. Maintain an active SAM                          section.
                                                    tables, figures, graphs, and screen shots.              registration with current information                    a. Electronic Submission of
                                                       We will reject your application if you               while your application is under review                Applications. Applications for grants
                                                    exceed the page limit in the application                by the Department and, if you are                     under the Preparation of Special
                                                    narrative section, or if you apply                      awarded a grant, during the project                   Education, Early Intervention, and
                                                    standards other than those specified in                 period.                                               Related Services Leadership Personnel
                                                    this notice and the application package.                   You can obtain a DUNS number from                  competition, CFDA number 84.325D,
                                                       3. Submission Dates and Times:                       Dun and Bradstreet at the following                   must be submitted electronically using
                                                    Applications Available: December 7,                     Web site: http://fedgov.dnb.com/                      the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply
                                                    2016.                                                   webform. A DUNS number can be                         site at www.Grants.gov. Through this
                                                       Deadline for Transmittal of                          created within one to two business days.              site, you will be able to download a
                                                    Applications: February 6, 2017.                            If you are a corporate entity, agency,             copy of the application package,
                                                       Applications for grants under this                   institution, or organization, you can                 complete it offline, and then upload and
                                                    competition must be submitted                           obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue                submit your application. You may not
                                                    electronically using the Grants.gov                     Service. If you are an individual, you                email an electronic copy of a grant
                                                    Apply site (Grants.gov). For information                can obtain a TIN from the Internal                    application to us.
                                                    (including dates and times) about how                   Revenue Service or the Social Security                   We will reject your application if you
                                                    to submit your application                              Administration. If you need a new TIN,                submit it in paper format unless, as
                                                    electronically, or in paper format by                   please allow two to five weeks for your               described elsewhere in this section, you
                                                    mail or hand delivery if you qualify for                TIN to become active.                                 qualify for one of the exceptions to the
                                                    an exception to the electronic                             The SAM registration process can take              electronic submission requirement and
                                                    submission requirement, please refer to                 approximately seven business days, but                submit, no later than two weeks before
                                                    Other Submission Requirements in                        may take upwards of several weeks,                    the application deadline date, a written
                                                    section IV of this notice.                              depending on the completeness and                     statement to the Department that you
                                                       We do not consider an application                    accuracy of the data you enter into the               qualify for one of these exceptions.
                                                    that does not comply with the deadline                  SAM database. Thus, if you think you                  Further information regarding
                                                    requirements.                                           might want to apply for Federal                       calculation of the date that is two weeks
                                                       Individuals with disabilities who                                                                          before the application deadline date is
                                                                                                            financial assistance under a program
                                                    need an accommodation or auxiliary aid                                                                        provided later in this section under
                                                                                                            administered by the Department, please
                                                    in connection with the application                                                                            Exception to Electronic Submission
                                                                                                            allow sufficient time to obtain and
                                                    process should contact the person listed                                                                      Requirement.
                                                                                                            register your DUNS number and TIN.
                                                    under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                                                                                    You may access the electronic grant
                                                                                                            We strongly recommend that you
                                                    CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If                                                                     application for the Preparation of
                                                                                                            register early.
                                                    the Department provides an                                                                                    Special Education, Early Intervention,
                                                    accommodation or auxiliary aid to an                       Note: Once your SAM registration is active,        and Related Services Leadership
                                                    individual with a disability in                         it may be 24 to 48 hours before you can               Personnel competition at
                                                                                                            access the information in, and submit an
                                                    connection with the application                                                                               www.Grants.gov. You must search for
                                                                                                            application through, Grants.gov.
                                                    process, the individual’s application                                                                         the downloadable application package
                                                    remains subject to all other                              If you are currently registered with                for this competition by the CFDA
                                                    requirements and limitations in this                    SAM, you may not need to make any                     number. Do not include the CFDA
                                                    notice.                                                 changes. However, please make certain                 number’s alpha suffix in your search
                                                       Deadline for Intergovernmental                       that the TIN associated with your DUNS                (e.g., search for 84.325, not 84.325D).
                                                    Review: April 6, 2017.                                  number is correct. Also note that you
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                                                                                                                                                                     Please note the following:
                                                       4. Intergovernmental Review: This                    will need to update your registration                    • When you enter the Grants.gov site,
                                                    competition is subject to Executive                     annually. This may take three or more                 you will find information about
                                                    Order 12372 and the regulations in 34                   business days.                                        submitting an application electronically
                                                    CFR part 79. Information about                            Information about SAM is available at               through the site, as well as the hours of
                                                    Intergovernmental Review of Federal                     www.SAM.gov. To further assist you                    operation.
                                                    Programs under Executive Order 12372                    with obtaining and registering your                      • Applications received by
                                                    is in the application package for this                  DUNS number and TIN in SAM or                         Grants.gov are date and time stamped.
                                                    competition.                                            updating your existing SAM account,                   Your application must be fully


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                                                    88224                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / Notices

                                                    uploaded and submitted and must be                      interactive or fillable PDF file. If you                 Application Deadline Date Extension
                                                    date and time stamped by the                            upload a file type other than a read-                 in Case of Technical Issues with the
                                                    Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00                 only, non-modifiable PDF (e.g., Word,                 Grants.gov System: If you are
                                                    p.m., Washington, DC time, on the                       Excel, WordPerfect, etc.) or submit a                 experiencing problems submitting your
                                                    application deadline date. Except as                    password-protected file, we will not                  application through Grants.gov, please
                                                    otherwise noted in this section, we will                review that material. Please note that                contact the Grants.gov Support Desk,
                                                    not accept your application if it is                    this could result in your application not             toll free, at 1–800–518–4726. You must
                                                    received—that is, date and time                         being considered for funding because                  obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case
                                                    stamped by the Grants.gov system—after                  the material in question—for example,                 Number and must keep a record of it.
                                                    4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on                   the application narrative—is critical to a               If you are prevented from
                                                    the application deadline date. We do                    meaningful review of your proposal. For               electronically submitting your
                                                    not consider an application that does                   that reason it is important to allow                  application on the application deadline
                                                    not comply with the deadline                            yourself adequate time to upload all                  date because of technical problems with
                                                    requirements. When we retrieve your                     material as PDF files. The Department                 the Grants.gov system, we will grant you
                                                    application from Grants.gov, we will                    will not convert material from other                  an extension until 4:30:00 p.m.,
                                                    notify you if we are rejecting your                     formats to PDF. Additional, detailed                  Washington, DC time, the following
                                                    application because it was date and time                information on how to attach files is in              business day to enable you to transmit
                                                    stamped by the Grants.gov system after                  the application instructions.                         your application electronically or by
                                                    4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on                      • Your electronic application must                 hand delivery. You also may mail your
                                                    the application deadline date.                          comply with any page-limit                            application by following the mailing
                                                      • The amount of time it can take to                   requirements described in this notice.                instructions described elsewhere in this
                                                    upload an application will vary                            • After you electronically submit                  notice.
                                                    depending on a variety of factors,                      your application, you will receive from                  If you submit an application after
                                                    including the size of the application and               Grants.gov an automatic notification of               4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
                                                    the speed of your Internet connection.                  receipt that contains a Grants.gov                    the application deadline date, please
                                                    Therefore, we strongly recommend that                   tracking number. This notification                    contact the person listed under FOR
                                                    you do not wait until the application                   indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not             FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in
                                                    deadline date to begin the submission                   receipt by the Department. Grants.gov                 section VII of this notice and provide an
                                                    process through Grants.gov.                             will also notify you automatically by                 explanation of the technical problem
                                                      • You should review and follow the                                                                          you experienced with Grants.gov, along
                                                                                                            email if your application met all the
                                                    Education Submission Procedures for                                                                           with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case
                                                                                                            Grants.gov validation requirements or if
                                                    submitting an application through                                                                             Number. We will accept your
                                                                                                            there were any errors (such as
                                                    Grants.gov that are included in the                                                                           application if we can confirm that a
                                                                                                            submission of your application by
                                                    application package for this competition                                                                      technical problem occurred with the
                                                    to ensure that you submit your                          someone other than a registered
                                                                                                            Authorized Organization                               Grants.gov system and that the problem
                                                    application in a timely manner to the                                                                         affected your ability to submit your
                                                    Grants.gov system. You can also find the                Representative, or inclusion of an
                                                                                                            attachment with a file name that                      application by 4:30:00 p.m.,
                                                    Education Submission Procedures                                                                               Washington, DC time, on the
                                                    pertaining to Grants.gov under News                     contains special characters). You will be
                                                                                                            given an opportunity to correct any                   application deadline date. We will
                                                    and Events on the Department’s G5                                                                             contact you after we determine whether
                                                    system home page at www.G5.gov. In                      errors and resubmit, but you must still
                                                                                                            meet the deadline for submission of                   your application will be accepted.
                                                    addition, for specific guidance and
                                                    procedures for submitting an                            applications.                                            Note: The extensions to which we refer in
                                                                                                               Once your application is successfully              this section apply only to the unavailability
                                                    application through Grants.gov, please                                                                        of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov
                                                    refer to the Grants.gov Web site at:                    validated by Grants.gov, the Department
                                                                                                            will retrieve your application from                   system. We will not grant you an extension
                                                    www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/                                                                         if you failed to fully register to submit your
                                                    apply-for-grants.html.                                  Grants.gov and send you an email with                 application to Grants.gov before the
                                                      • You will not receive additional                     a unique PR/Award number for your                     application deadline date and time or if the
                                                    point value because you submit your                     application.                                          technical problem you experienced is
                                                    application in electronic format, nor                      These emails do not mean that your                 unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
                                                    will we penalize you if you qualify for                 application is without any disqualifying                Exception to Electronic Submission
                                                    an exception to the electronic                          errors. While your application may have               Requirement: You qualify for an
                                                    submission requirement, as described                    been successfully validated by                        exception to the electronic submission
                                                    elsewhere in this section, and submit                   Grants.gov, it must also meet the                     requirement, and may submit your
                                                    your application in paper format.                       Department’s application requirements                 application in paper format, if you are
                                                      • You must submit all documents                       as specified in this notice and in the                unable to submit an application through
                                                    electronically, including all information               application instructions. Disqualifying               the Grants.gov system because—
                                                    you typically provide on the following                  errors could include, for instance,                      • You do not have access to the
                                                    forms: The Application for Federal                      failure to upload attachments in a read-              Internet; or
                                                    Assistance (SF 424), the Department of                  only, non-modifiable PDF; failure to                     • You do not have the capacity to
                                                    Education Supplemental Information for                  submit a required part of the
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                                                                                                                                                                  upload large documents to the
                                                    SF 424, Budget Information—Non-                         application; or failure to meet applicant             Grants.gov system;
                                                    Construction Programs (ED 524), and all                 eligibility requirements. It is your                     and
                                                    necessary assurances and certifications.                responsibility to ensure that your                       • No later than two weeks before the
                                                      • You must upload any narrative                       submitted application has met all of the              application deadline date (14 calendar
                                                    sections and all other attachments to                   Department’s requirements.                            days or, if the fourteenth calendar day
                                                    your application as files in a read-only,                  • We may request that you provide us               before the application deadline date
                                                    non-modifiable Portable Document                        original signatures on forms at a later               falls on a Federal holiday, the next
                                                    Format (PDF). Do not upload an                          date.                                                 business day following the Federal


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / Notices                                              88225

                                                    holiday), you mail or fax a written                     may deliver your paper application to                 because so many individuals who are
                                                    statement to the Department, explaining                 the Department by hand. You must                      eligible to serve as peer reviewers have
                                                    which of the two grounds for an                         deliver the original and two copies of                conflicts of interest. The standing panel
                                                    exception prevents you from using the                   your application by hand, on or before                requirements under section 682(b) of
                                                    Internet to submit your application.                    the application deadline date, to the                 IDEA also have placed additional
                                                      If you mail your written statement to                 Department at the following address:                  constraints on the availability of
                                                    the Department, it must be postmarked                   U.S. Department of Education,                         reviewers. Therefore, the Department
                                                    no later than two weeks before the                      Application Control Center, Attention:                has determined that for some
                                                    application deadline date. If you fax                   (CFDA Number 84.325D), 550 12th                       discretionary grant competitions,
                                                    your written statement to the                           Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center                 applications may be separated into two
                                                    Department, we must receive the faxed                   Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.                     or more groups and ranked and selected
                                                    statement no later than two weeks                          The Application Control Center                     for funding within specific groups. This
                                                    before the application deadline date.                   accepts hand deliveries daily between                 procedure will make it easier for the
                                                      Address and mail or fax your                          8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington,               Department to find peer reviewers by
                                                    statement to: Celia Rosenquist, U.S.                    DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays,                   ensuring that greater numbers of
                                                    Department of Education, 400 Maryland                   and Federal holidays.                                 individuals who are eligible to serve as
                                                    Avenue SW., Room 5146, Potomac                             Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of                  reviewers for any particular group of
                                                    Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC                      Paper Applications: If you mail or hand               applicants will not have conflicts of
                                                    20202–5076. FAX: (202) 245–7590.                        deliver your application to the                       interest. It also will increase the quality,
                                                      Your paper application must be                        Department—                                           independence, and fairness of the
                                                    submitted in accordance with the mail                      (1) You must indicate on the envelope              review process, while permitting panel
                                                    or hand-delivery instructions described                 and—if not provided by the                            members to review applications under
                                                    in this notice.                                         Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424                   discretionary grant competitions for
                                                      b. Submission of Paper Applications                   the CFDA number, including suffix                     which they also have submitted
                                                    by Mail. If you qualify for an exception                letter, if any, of the competition under              applications.
                                                    to the electronic submission                            which you are submitting your                            4. Risk Assessment and Special
                                                    requirement, you may mail (through the                  application; and                                      Conditions: Consistent with 2 CFR
                                                    U.S. Postal Service or a commercial                        (2) The Application Control Center                 200.205, before awarding grants under
                                                    carrier) your application to the                        will mail to you a notification of receipt            this competition the Department
                                                    Department. You must mail the original                  of your grant application. If you do not              conducts a review of the risks posed by
                                                    and two copies of your application, on                  receive this notification within 15                   applicants. Under 2 CFR 3474.10, the
                                                    or before the application deadline date,                business days from the application                    Secretary may impose special
                                                    to the Department at the following                      deadline date, you should call the U.S.               conditions and, in appropriate
                                                    address: U.S. Department of Education,                  Department of Education Application                   circumstances, high risk conditions on a
                                                    Application Control Center, Attention:                  Control Center at (202) 245–6288.                     grant if the applicant or grantee is not
                                                    (CFDA Number 84.325D), LBJ Basement                                                                           financially stable; has a history of
                                                                                                            V. Application Review Information                     unsatisfactory performance; has a
                                                    Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
                                                                                                              1. Selection Criteria: The selection                financial or other management system
                                                    Washington, DC 20202–4260.
                                                                                                            criteria for this competition are from 34             that does not meet the standards in 2
                                                      You must show proof of mailing
                                                                                                            CFR 75.210 and are listed in the                      CFR part 200, subpart D; has not
                                                    consisting of one of the following:
                                                      (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service               application package.                                  fulfilled the conditions of a prior grant;
                                                                                                              2. Review and Selection Process: We                 or is otherwise not responsible.
                                                    postmark.
                                                                                                            remind potential applicants that in                      5. Integrity and Performance System:
                                                      (2) A legible mail receipt with the
                                                                                                            reviewing applications in any                         If you are selected under this
                                                    date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
                                                                                                            discretionary grant competition, the                  competition to receive an award that
                                                    Postal Service.
                                                                                                            Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR                  over the course of the project period
                                                      (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or
                                                                                                            75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the             may exceed the simplified acquisition
                                                    receipt from a commercial carrier.
                                                                                                            applicant in carrying out a previous                  threshold (currently $150,000), under 2
                                                      (4) Any other proof of mailing
                                                                                                            award, such as the applicant’s use of                 CFR 200.205(a)(2), we must make a
                                                    acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.
                                                                                                            funds, achievement of project                         judgment about your integrity, business
                                                    Department of Education.
                                                                                                            objectives, and compliance with grant                 ethics, and record of performance under
                                                      If you mail your application through
                                                                                                            conditions. The Secretary may also                    Federal awards—that is, the risk posed
                                                    the U.S. Postal Service, we do not
                                                                                                            consider whether the applicant failed to              by you as an applicant—before we make
                                                    accept either of the following as proof
                                                                                                            submit a timely performance report or                 an award. In doing so, we must consider
                                                    of mailing:
                                                                                                            submitted a report of unacceptable                    any information about you that is in the
                                                      (1) A private metered postmark.
                                                                                                            quality.                                              integrity and performance system
                                                      (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
                                                                                                              In addition, in making a competitive                (currently referred to as the Federal
                                                    the U.S. Postal Service.
                                                                                                            grant award, the Secretary requires                   Awardee Performance and Integrity
                                                      Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not                various assurances, including those                   Information System (FAPIIS)),
                                                    uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before              applicable to Federal civil rights laws               accessible through SAM. You may
                                                    relying on this method, you should check                that prohibit discrimination in programs              review and comment on any
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                                                    with your local post office.
                                                                                                            or activities receiving Federal financial             information about yourself that a
                                                      We will not consider applications                     assistance from the Department of                     Federal agency previously entered and
                                                    postmarked after the application                        Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4,                that is currently in FAPIIS.
                                                    deadline date.                                          108.8, and 110.23).                                      Please note that, if the total value of
                                                      c. Submission of Paper Applications                     3. Additional Review and Selection                  your currently active grants, cooperative
                                                    by Hand Delivery. If you qualify for an                 Process Factors: In the past, the                     agreements, and procurement contracts
                                                    exception to the electronic submission                  Department has had difficulty finding                 from the Federal Government exceeds
                                                    requirement, you (or a courier service)                 peer reviewers for certain competitions               $10,000,000, the reporting requirements


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                                                    88226                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 235 / Wednesday, December 7, 2016 / Notices

                                                    in 2 CFR part 200, Appendix XII,                        preparation programs that incorporate                 VIII. Other Information
                                                    require you to report certain integrity                 scientifically or evidence-based                         Accessible Format: Individuals with
                                                    information to FAPIIS semiannually.                     practices into their curricula; (2) the               disabilities can obtain this document
                                                    Please review the requirements in 2 CFR                 percentage of scholars completing                     and a copy of the application package in
                                                    part 200, Appendix XII, if this grant                   preparation programs who are                          an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
                                                    plus all the other Federal funds you                    knowledgeable and skilled in evidence-                print, audiotape, or compact disc) by
                                                    receive exceed $10,000,000.                             based practices for children with                     contacting the Management Support
                                                    VI. Award Administration Information                    disabilities; (3) the percentage of                   Services Team, U.S. Department of
                                                                                                            scholars who exit preparation programs                Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
                                                       1. Award Notices: If your application                prior to completion due to poor
                                                    is successful, we notify your U.S.                                                                            Room 5113, Potomac Center Plaza,
                                                                                                            academic performance; (4) the                         Washington, DC 20202–2500.
                                                    Representative and U.S. Senators and                    percentage of scholars completing
                                                    send you a Grant Award Notification                                                                           Telephone: (202) 245–7363. If you use a
                                                                                                            preparation programs who are working                  TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at
                                                    (GAN); or we may send you an email                      in the area(s) in which they were
                                                    containing a link to access an electronic                                                                     1–800–877–8339.
                                                                                                            prepared upon program completion; and                    Electronic Access to This Document:
                                                    version of your GAN. We may notify                      (5) the Federal cost per scholar who
                                                    you informally, also.                                                                                         The official version of this document is
                                                                                                            completed the preparation program.                    the document published in the Federal
                                                       If your application is not evaluated or
                                                    not selected for funding, we notify you.                   In addition, the Department will                   Register. Free Internet access to the
                                                       2. Administrative and National Policy                gather information on the following                   official edition of the Federal Register
                                                    Requirements: We identify                               outcome measures: (1) The percentage                  and the Code of Federal Regulations is
                                                    administrative and national policy                      of scholars who completed the                         available via the Federal Digital System
                                                    requirements in the application package                 preparation program and are employed                  at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
                                                    and reference these and other                           in high-need districts; (2) the percentage            can view this document, as well as all
                                                    requirements in the Applicable                          of scholars who completed the                         other documents of this Department
                                                    Regulations section of this notice.                     preparation program and are employed                  published in the Federal Register, in
                                                       We reference the regulations outlining               in the field of special education for at              text or PDF. To use PDF you must have
                                                    the terms and conditions of an award in                 least two years; and (3) the percentage               Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
                                                    the Applicable Regulations section of                   of scholars who completed the                         available free at the site.
                                                    this notice and include these and other                 preparation program and who are rated                    You may also access documents of the
                                                    specific conditions in the GAN. The                     effective by their employers.                         Department published in the Federal
                                                    GAN also incorporates your approved                        Grantees may be asked to participate               Register by using the article search
                                                    application as part of your binding                     in assessing and providing information                feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
                                                    commitments under the grant.                            on these aspects of program quality.                  Specifically, through the advanced
                                                       3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a                    5. Continuation Awards: In making a                search feature at this site, you can limit
                                                    grant under this competition, you must                  continuation award under 34 CFR                       your search to documents published by
                                                    ensure that you have in place the                       75.253, the Secretary considers, among                the Department.
                                                    necessary processes and systems to                      other things: Whether a grantee has                     Dated: December 2, 2016.
                                                    comply with the reporting requirements                  made substantial progress in achieving                Sue Swenson,
                                                    in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive                    the goals and objectives of the project;              Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special
                                                    funding under the competition. This                     whether the grantee has expended funds                Education and Rehabilitative Services,
                                                    does not apply if you have an exception                 in a manner that is consistent with its               delegated the authority to perform the
                                                    under 2 CFR 170.110(b).                                 approved application and budget; and,                 functions and duties of the Assistant
                                                       (b) At the end of your project period,               if the Secretary has established                      Secretary for Special Education and
                                                    you must submit a final performance                     performance measurement                               Rehabilitative Services.
                                                    report, including financial information,                requirements, the performance targets in              [FR Doc. 2016–29371 Filed 12–6–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    as directed by the Secretary. If you                    the grantee’s approved application.                   BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
                                                    receive a multiyear award, you must
                                                                                                               In making a continuation award, the
                                                    submit an annual performance report
                                                                                                            Secretary also considers whether the
                                                    that provides the most current                                                                                DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
                                                                                                            grantee is operating in compliance with
                                                    performance and financial expenditure
                                                                                                            the assurances in its approved                        Applications for New Awards; Training
                                                    information as directed by the Secretary
                                                                                                            application, including those applicable               and Information for Parents of Children
                                                    under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary
                                                                                                            to Federal civil rights laws that prohibit            With Disabilities—Community Parent
                                                    may also require more frequent
                                                                                                            discrimination in programs or activities              Resource Centers
                                                    performance reports under 34 CFR
                                                                                                            receiving Federal financial assistance
                                                    75.720(c). For specific requirements on                                                                       AGENCY:  Office of Special Education and
                                                                                                            from the Department (34 CFR 100.4,
                                                    reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/                                                                           Rehabilitative Services, Department of
                                                                                                            104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
                                                    fund/grant/apply/appforms/                                                                                    Education.
                                                    appforms.html.                                          VII. Agency Contact                                   ACTION: Notice.
                                                       4. Performance Measures: Under
                                                    GPRA, the Department has established a                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                            Celia Rosenquist, U.S. Department of                  Overview Information
                                                    set of performance measures, including
                                                    long-term measures, that are designed to                Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,                     Training and Information for Parents
                                                    yield information on various aspects of                 Room 5146, Potomac Center Plaza,                      of Children with Disabilities—
                                                    the effectiveness and quality of the                    Washington, DC 20202–5076.                            Community Parent Resource Centers
                                                    Personnel Development to Improve                        Telephone: (202) 245–7373.                            Notice inviting applications for new
                                                    Services and Results for Children with                    If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the                 awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017.
                                                    Disabilities program. These measures                    Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at            Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
                                                    include: (1) The percentage of                          1–800–877–8339.                                           (CFDA) Number: 84.328C.



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Document Created: 2016-12-07 05:31:25
Document Modified: 2016-12-07 05:31:25
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesApplications Available: December 7, 2016.
ContactCelia Rosenquist, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5146, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-5076. Telephone: (202) 245-7373.
FR Citation81 FR 88218 

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