[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18438-18447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07930]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Technical Assistance and
Dissemination To Improve Services and Results for Children With
Disabilities--Early Childhood Systems Technical Assistance Center
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Education is issuing a notice inviting
applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2017 for Technical
Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for
Children with Disabilities--Early Childhood Systems Technical
Assistance Center, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number
84.326P.
DATES: Applications Available: April 19, 2017.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 5, 2017.
Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 2, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia Martin Eile, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5175, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-5108. Telephone: (202) 245-7431.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Technical Assistance and
Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with
Disabilities program is to promote academic achievement and to improve
results for children with disabilities by providing technical
assistance (TA), supporting model demonstration projects, disseminating
useful information, and implementing activities that are supported by
scientifically based research.
Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), this priority
is from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 663
and 681(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
(20 U.S.C. 1463 and 1481)(d)).
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:
Early Childhood Systems Technical Assistance Center.
Background:
To improve outcomes for, and protect the rights of, infants,
toddlers, and preschool children (young children) with disabilities and
their families, States must have effective systems \1\ for implementing
IDEA and providing high-quality services under Part C and Part B,
section 619. Effective systems must include implementation supports \2\
that enable local programs and practitioners to implement, with
fidelity, services and interventions \3\ supported by evidence (as
defined in this notice). The majority of States, however, have
identified areas for improvement within their systems (Lucas et al.,
2015), and local programs often lack necessary implementation supports.
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\1\ For the purpose of this priority, ``systems'' include:
governance; finance; personnel and workforce; data; accountability
and quality improvement; and quality standards (The Early Childhood
Technical Assistance Center, 2015).
\2\ For the purpose of this priority, ``implementation
supports'' include: professional development and training; ongoing
consultation and coaching; performance assessments; data systems to
support decision making; administrative supports; and systems
interventions to align policies and funding mechanisms across
multiple levels of a system (Fixsen, Blas[eacute], Naoom, & Wallace,
2009).
\3\ For the purpose of this priority, ``interventions'' include
the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) recommended practices. The
DEC recommended practices bridge the gap between research and
practice, providing guidance to families of young children with
disabilities and practitioners who work with them. The practices
have been shown to result in better outcomes for young children with
disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them
(Division for Early Childhood, 2014).
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States can use the State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP),\4\ a
comprehensive, multiyear plan that is focused on improving a State-
identified measureable result (SIMR), to plan how to enhance their
systems to better implement IDEA and interventions based on evidence.
States reported in their SSIPs multiple challenges that affect States'
abilities to successfully implement their SSIPs, including the high
turnover of State administrators and limited collaboration across those
agencies that are part of delivering high-quality inclusive
programs.\5\
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\4\ Each State was required to submit an SSIP as part of its
State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report beginning in
Federal Fiscal Year 2013. Each State identified a SIMR under Parts C
and B of IDEA.
\5\ IDEA Part C requires that, to the maximum extent
appropriate, factoring in each child's routines, needs, and
outcomes, early intervention services be made available to all
eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities in ``natural
environments,'' including the home and community settings in which
children without disabilities participate. IDEA Part B, section 619
requires that to the maximum extent appropriate, all children with
disabilities, including preschool children with disabilities, must
be educated in the least restrictive environment, and removal from
the regular education environment occurs only if the nature and
severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes
with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved
satisfactorily.
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In order to increase high-quality inclusive opportunities for
children with disabilities, State IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619
coordinators must be active collaborators with other early childhood
systems (e.g., home visiting programs, Head Start programs, child care
programs, public preschool programs) and engage in broader early
childhood initiatives within the State. Further, IDEA Part C and Part
B, section 619 coordinators report that they are often not included as
partners on State and local leadership teams that are developed to
address broader early childhood initiatives, but that collaboration
with their IDEA counterparts is necessary for developing and increasing
access and meaningful participation in inclusive settings for young
children with disabilities.
This priority will fund a cooperative agreement to establish and
operate a national Early Childhood Systems Technical Assistance Center
(Center). The Center will provide TA to States to enable them to
maintain high-quality systems with implementation supports to implement
IDEA consistent with its requirements and to provide high-quality IDEA
services for young children with disabilities and their families. The
Center will work with IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 coordinators
to increase their competencies to lead systemic improvements and work
collaboratively with other early childhood systems to increase access
to, and participation in, high-quality inclusive programs for young
children with disabilities.
Priority:
The purpose of this priority is to fund a cooperative agreement to
establish and operate an Early Childhood Systems Technical Assistance
Center to achieve, at a minimum, the following:
[[Page 18439]]
(a) Increased capacity of State IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619
programs to improve and sustain State systems (including governance,
finance, personnel and workforce, data, accountability and quality
improvement, and quality standards) to effectively implement IDEA
regulations and deliver high-quality IDEA services to improve outcomes
for young children with disabilities and their families.
(b) Increased capacity of State IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619
programs to include implementation supports within their State systems
to support local programs in delivering effective services and
interventions for young children with disabilities and their families.
(c) Increased capacity of State IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619
programs to implement their SSIPs and make progress towards meeting
their SIMRs to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities
and their families.
(d) Improved State and local systems to increase access to, and
participation in, high-quality, inclusive programs for young children
with disabilities.
(e) Increased knowledge, skills, and competencies of IDEA Part C
and Part B, section 619 coordinators to lead systemic improvement
efforts, actively engage in broader early childhood initiatives, use TA
effectively, and build more effective and sustainable State systems
that provide high-quality services and inclusive learning opportunities
that improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their
families.
In addition to these programmatic requirements, to be considered
for funding under this priority, applicants must meet the application
and administrative requirements in this priority. The Office of Special
Education Programs (OSEP) encourages innovative approaches to meet
these requirements, which are:
(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Significance of the Project,'' how the proposed project will--
(1) Address the current and emerging needs of States under IDEA
Part C and Part B, section 619 programs to implement and sustain high-
quality, effective, and efficient systems that have the implementation
supports in place to support local programs in delivering effective
services and the DEC Recommended Practices within inclusive programs to
improve outcomes for young children with disabilities and their
families. To meet this requirement the applicant must--
(i) Present applicable national and State data demonstrating the
needs of States to improve their systems to implement IDEA, deliver
high-quality IDEA services for young children with disabilities and
their families, implement DEC Recommended Practices, and increase
opportunities to participate in inclusive programs;
(ii) Demonstrate knowledge of current issues and ongoing challenges
to implementing IDEA in a manner consistent with its statutory and
regulatory provisions, implementing the SSIP to improve outcomes for
young children with disabilities and their families, increasing the
capacity of Part C and Part B, section 619 coordinators to effectively
lead systemic improvement, and supporting collaborative relationships
between early childhood and IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619
programs;
(iii) Demonstrate knowledge of broader early childhood initiatives
and how IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 programs and children with
disabilities could be included within the initiatives; and
(iv) Present information about the current capacity of IDEA Part C
and Part B, section 619 programs and coordinators to support systemic
change and implement the recommendations in the Policy Statement on
Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs
(U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, 2015).
(2) Improve IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 systems to ensure
implementation of IDEA, and build capacity to support local programs to
implement, scale up, and sustain high-quality services and inclusive
programs, and indicate the likely magnitude or importance of the
improvements.
(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of the Project Services,'' how the proposed project will--
(1) Ensure equal access and treatment to members of groups that
have traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disability. To meet this requirement, the
applicant must describe how it will--
(i) Identify the needs of the intended recipients for TA and
information; and
(ii) Ensure that TA services and products meet the needs of the
intended recipients;
(2) Achieve its goals, objectives, and intended outcomes. To meet
this requirement, the applicant must provide--
(i) Measurable intended project outcomes; and
(ii) The logic model by which the proposed project will achieve its
intended outcomes. A logic model used in connection with this priority
communicates how a project will achieve its intended outcomes and
provides a framework for both the formative and summative evaluations
of the project;
(3) Use a conceptual framework to develop project plans and
activities, describing any underlying concepts, assumptions,
expectations, beliefs, or theories, as well as the presumed
relationships or linkages among these variables, and any empirical
support for this framework;
Note: Rather than use the definition of ``logic model'' in 34
CFR 77.1(c), OSEP uses the definition in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of
these application requirements. This definition, unlike the
definition in 34 CFR 77.1(c), differentiates between logic models
and conceptual frameworks. The following Web sites provide more
information on logic models: www.osepideasthatwork.org/logicModel
and www.osepideasthatwork.org/resources-grantees/program-areas/ta-ta/tad-project-logic-model-and-conceptual-framework.
(4) Be based on current research and make use of practices
supported by evidence. To meet this requirement, the applicant must
describe--
(i) The current research on the effectiveness of systems change,
capacity building, and inclusive practices that will inform the TA and
related research-based improvement strategies;
(ii) The current research about adult learning principles and
implementation science or improvement science that will inform the
proposed products; and
(iii) How the proposed project will incorporate current research
and practices supported by evidence in the development and delivery of
its TA products and services;
(5) Develop products and provide services that are of high quality
and sufficient intensity and duration to achieve the intended outcomes
of the proposed project. To address this requirement, the applicant
must describe--
(i) How it proposes to identify or develop the knowledge base on:
How to implement components of an effective IDEA Part C and Part B,
section 619 system identified in the Early System Framework for
Building High-Quality Early Intervention and Preschool Special
Education Programs (Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center, 2015);
implementation supports within the system to support providers in
delivering effective services and implementing DEC Recommended
Practices; and indicators of high-quality inclusion and how States,
districts, and
[[Page 18440]]
early childhood programs are implementing high-quality inclusive
programs;
(ii) Its proposed approach to universal, general TA,\6\ which must
identify the intended recipients of the products and services under
this approach and should include, at minimum--
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\6\ ``Universal, general TA'' means TA and information provided
to independent users through their own initiative, resulting in
minimal interaction with TA center staff and including one-time,
invited or offered conference presentations by TA center staff. This
category of TA also includes information or products, such as
newsletters, guidebooks, or research syntheses, downloaded from the
TA center's Web site by independent users. Brief communications by
TA center staff with recipients, either by telephone or email, are
also considered universal, general TA.
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(A) A plan for ensuring that IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619
program staff, other early childhood providers, and relevant TA centers
can easily access and use products and services developed by the
proposed project;
(B) A plan for increasing awareness and recognition at the national
level of how IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 services and young
children with disabilities and their families can be intentionally
included within broader early childhood initiatives; and
(C) A plan for years 3-5 that describes activities, including
developing and strengthening existing resources, guidance, and tools
focused on supporting all IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 programs
in implementing IDEA requirements and supporting the programs in
meeting their SIMRs.
(iii) Its proposed approach to targeted, specialized TA,\7\ which
must identify--
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\7\ ``Targeted, specialized TA'' means TA services based on
needs common to multiple recipients and not extensively
individualized. A relationship is established between the TA
recipient and one or more TA center staff. This category of TA
includes one-time, labor-intensive events, such as facilitating
strategic planning or hosting regional or national conferences. It
can also include episodic, less labor-intensive events that extend
over a period of time, such as facilitating a series of conference
calls on single or multiple topics that are designed around the
needs of the recipients. Facilitating communities of practice can
also be considered targeted, specialized TA.
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(A) The intended recipients of the products and services under this
approach;
(B) Its proposed approach to measure the readiness of potential TA
recipients to work with the project, assessing, at a minimum, their
current systems, available resources, and ability to build capacity at
the local level;
(C) The process by which the proposed project will collaborate with
OSEP-funded centers and other federally funded TA centers to develop
and implement a coordinated TA plan when they are involved in a State;
(D) The process by which the proposed project will collaborate with
the proposed Early Childhood Personnel Center to develop the content of
professional development for IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619
coordinators to increase their knowledge, skills, and competencies; and
(E) The process by which the proposed project will increase its TA
efforts to States in years 3-5 to achieve the intended project
outcomes;
(iv) Its proposed approach to intensive, sustained TA,\8\ which
must identify--
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\8\ ``Intensive, sustained TA'' means TA services often provided
on-site and requiring a stable, ongoing relationship between the TA
center staff and the TA recipient. ``TA services'' are defined as
negotiated series of activities designed to reach a valued outcome.
This category of TA should result in changes to policy, program,
practice, or operations that support increased recipient capacity or
improved outcomes at one or more systems levels.
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(A) The intended recipients of the products and services under this
approach;
(B) Its proposed approach to measure the readiness of the State
IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 programs to work with the project,
including their commitment to the initiative, alignment of the
initiative to their needs, current systems, available resources, and
ability to build capacity at the local level;
(C) Its proposed plan for assisting State IDEA Part C and Part B,
section 619 programs to build training systems that include
professional development based on adult learning principles and
coaching;
(D) Its proposed plan for working with appropriate levels of the
Part C and Part B, section 619 and early childhood systems (e.g.,
regional TA providers, early intervention service programs and
providers, local educational agencies (LEAs), Head Start programs,
child care programs, home visiting programs, public preschools) and
families to ensure that there is communication between each level and
that there are systems in place to support the use of research-based
practices;
(E) The process by which the proposed project will collaborate with
OSEP-funded centers and other federally funded TA centers to develop
and implement a coordinated TA plan when they are involved in a State;
(F) The process by which the proposed project will ensure the use
of effective TA practices and continuously evaluate the practices to
improve the delivery of TA; and
(G) The process by which the proposed project will increase its TA
efforts in years 3-5 to support all IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619
programs in implementing IDEA requirements and meeting their SIMRs.
(6) Develop products and implement services that maximize
efficiency. To address this requirement, the applicant must describe--
(i) How the proposed project will use technology to achieve the
intended project outcomes;
(ii) With whom the proposed project will collaborate and the
intended outcomes of this collaboration; and
(iii) How the proposed project will use non-project resources to
achieve the intended project outcomes.
(c) In the narrative section of the application under ``Quality of
the Evaluation Plan,'' include an evaluation plan for the project as
described in the following paragraphs. The evaluation plan must
describe: Measures of progress in implementation, including the
criteria for determining the extent to which the project's products and
services have reached its target population; measures of intended
outcomes or results of the project's activities in order to evaluate
those activities; and how well the goals or objectives of the proposed
project, as described in its logic model, have been met.
(d) Demonstrate in the narrative section of the application under
``Adequacy of Project Resources,'' how--
(1) The proposed project will encourage applications for employment
from persons who are members of groups that have traditionally been
underrepresented based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, or
disability, as appropriate;
(2) The proposed key project personnel, consultants, and
subcontractors have the qualifications and experience to carry out the
proposed activities and achieve the project's intended outcomes;
(3) The applicant and any key partners have adequate resources to
carry out the proposed activities; and
(4) The proposed costs are reasonable in relation to the
anticipated results and benefits.
(e) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under
``Quality of the Management Plan,'' how--
(1) The proposed management plan will ensure that the project's
intended outcomes will be achieved on time and within budget. To
address this requirement, the applicant must describe--
(i) Clearly defined responsibilities for key project personnel,
consultants, and subcontractors, as applicable; and
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(ii) Timelines and milestones for accomplishing the project tasks;
(2) Allocation of key project personnel and any consultants and
subcontractors and how these allocations are appropriate and adequate
to achieve the project's intended outcomes;
(3) The proposed management plan will ensure that the products and
services provided are of high quality, relevant, and useful to
recipients; and
(4) The proposed project will benefit from a diversity of
perspectives, including those of families, educators, TA providers,
doctoral and post-doctoral scholars, researchers, and policy makers,
among others, in its development and operation.
(f) Address the following application requirements. The applicant
must--
(1) Include, in Appendix A, a logic model that depicts, at a
minimum, the goals, activities, outputs, and intended outcomes of the
proposed project;
(2) Include, in Appendix A, a conceptual framework for the project;
(3) Include, in Appendix A, personnel-loading charts and timelines,
as applicable, to illustrate the management plan described in the
narrative;
(4) Include, in the budget, attendance at the following:
(i) A one and one-half day kick-off meeting in Washington, DC,
after receipt of the award, and an annual planning meeting in
Washington, DC, with the OSEP project officer and other relevant staff
during each subsequent year of the project period.
Note: Within 30 days of receipt of the award, a post-award
teleconference must be held between the OSEP project officer and the
grantee's project director or other authorized representative;
(ii) A two and one-half day project directors' conference in
Washington, DC, during each year of the project period;
(iii) Four trips annually to attend Department briefings,
Department-sponsored conferences, and other meetings, as requested by
OSEP; and
(iv) A one-day intensive 3+2 review meeting in Washington, DC,
during the last half of the second year of the project period;
(5) Include, in the budget, a line item for the following:
(i) An annual set-aside of five percent of the grant amount to
support emerging needs that are consistent with the proposed project's
intended outcomes, as those needs are identified in consultation with
and approved by the OSEP project officer. With approval from the OSEP
project officer, the project must reallocate any remaining funds from
this annual set-aside no later than the end of the third quarter of
each budget period;
(ii) An annual budget of a minimum of $500,000 to address the need
to increase knowledge and implement high-quality inclusive practices
across early childhood systems;
(iii) An annual budget of a minimum of $200,000 to address the
needs in the finance systems for Part C; and
(iv) An annual budget of a minimum of $50,000 to collaborate with
the proposed Early Childhood Personnel Center, if funded, to increase
the knowledge, skills and competencies of IDEA Part C and Part B,
section 619 coordinators
(6) Engage doctoral students or post-doctoral fellows in the
project to increase future leaders in the field who are knowledgeable
on effective IDEA Part C and Part B, section 619 systems,
implementation supports, interventions to support inclusion in early
childhood programs, and effective TA practices;
(7) Maintain a Web site that meets government or industry-
recognized standards for accessibility; and
(8) Include, in Appendix A, an assurance to assist OSEP with the
transfer of pertinent resources and products and to maintain the
continuity of services to States during the transition to this new
award period, as appropriate.
Fourth and Fifth Years of the Project:
In deciding whether to continue funding the project for the fourth
and fifth years, the Secretary will consider the requirements of 34 CFR
75.253(a), as well as--
(a) The recommendation of a 3+2 review team consisting of experts
selected by the Secretary. This review will be conducted during a one-
day intensive meeting that will be held during the last half of the
second year of the project period;
(b) The timeliness with which, and how well, the requirements of
the negotiated cooperative agreement have been or are being met by the
project; and
(c) The quality, relevance, and usefulness of the project's
products and services and the extent to which the project's products
and services are aligned with the project's objectives and likely to
result in the project achieving its intended outcomes.
Definitions:
For the purposes of this priority:
Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product,
strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.
Supported by evidence means supported by at least strong theory.
References:
Division for Early Childhood. (2014). DEC recommended practices in
early intervention/early childhood special education 2014. Retrieved
from www.dec-sped.org/recommendedpractices.
Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. (2015). A system
framework for building high-quality early intervention and preschool
special education programs. Retrieved from the ECTA Web site: http:/
/ectacenter.org/~pdfs/pubs/ecta-system_framework.pdf.
Fixsen, D. L., Blas[eacute], K. A., Naoom, S. F., & Wallace, F.
(2009). Core implementation components. Research on Social Work
Practices, 19(5), 531-540.
Lucas, A., Kahn, L., Derrington, T., Whaley, K., Winer, A., Nelson,
R., * * * Taylor, C. (2015). State of the states on systemic
improvement planning: A national overview of Phase 1 SSIPs
[PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://ectacenter.org/googleresults.asp?q=State%20of%20the%20States.
National Professional Development Center on Inclusion. (August,
2011). Competencies for early childhood educators in the context of
inclusion: Issues and guidance for States. Chapel Hill, NC: The
University of North Carolina, FPG Child Development Institute,
Author.
U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. (2015). Joint policy statement on inclusion of children
with disabilities in early childhood programs. Washington, DC:
Author. Retrieved from www.ed.gov/early-learning/inclusion.
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. 1463 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.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of
higher education (IHEs) only.
[[Page 18442]]
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative agreement.
Estimated Available Funds: The Further Continuing and Security
Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017, would provide, on an annualized
basis, $54,345,000 for the Technical Assistance and Dissemination to
Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program, of
which we would use an estimated $3,400,000 in Years 1 and 2, and
$5,400,000 in Years 3-5 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.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $3,400,000 in Years 1 and 2, and $5,400,000 in Years
3-5 for a single budget period of 12 months.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies; local
educational agencies (LEAs), including public charter schools that
operate as LEAs under State law; IHEs; other public agencies; private
nonprofit organizations; freely associated States and outlying areas;
Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations; and for-profit 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 TDD or a 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 84.326P.
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 VII 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 70 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 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: April 19, 2017.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 5, 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. 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:
August 2, 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.
[[Page 18443]]
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 Early Childhood Systems Technical
Assistance Center competition, CFDA number 84.326P, 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 Early
Childhood Systems Technical Assistance Center 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 84.326, not
84.326P).
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 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 Portable
Document Format (PDF). Do not upload an interactive or fillable PDF
file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only 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
[[Page 18444]]
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 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 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 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: Julia Martin Eile, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5175, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-5108. 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 84.326P), 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:
[[Page 18445]]
(CFDA Number 84.326P), 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: (a) Significance (5 points).
(1) The Secretary considers the significance of the proposed
project.
(2) In determining the significance of the proposed project, the
Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the proposed project will address specific
gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities that
have been identified.
(ii) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely
to be attained by the proposed project.
(b) Quality of the project services (40 points).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the services to be
provided by the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the services to be provided by
the proposed project, the Secretary considers the quality and
sufficiency of strategies for ensuring equal access and treatment for
eligible project participants who are members of groups that have
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disability.
(3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.
(ii) The extent to which there is a conceptual framework underlying
the proposed activities and the quality of that framework.
(iii) The extent to which the services to be provided by the
proposed project reflect up-to-date knowledge from research and
effective practice.
(iv) The extent to which the proposed products and services are of
sufficient quality, intensity, and duration to lead to the outcomes
intended to be achieved by the proposed project.
(v) The extent to which the products and services to be developed
and provided by the proposed project involve the use of efficient
strategies, including the use of technology, collaboration with
appropriate partners, and the leveraging of non-project resources.
(c) Quality of the project evaluation (20 points).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the evaluation to be
conducted of the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary
considers the following factors:
(i) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough,
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the
proposed project.
(ii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide
data and performance feedback for examining the effectiveness of
project implementation strategies and the progress toward achieving
intended outcomes.
(iii) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will produce
quantitative and qualitative data that demonstrate the project has met
intended outcomes.
(d) Adequacy of project resources (15 points).
(1) The Secretary considers the adequacy of resources, including
the personnel who will carry out the proposed project.
(2) In determining the adequacy of resources, the Secretary
considers the extent to which the applicant encourages applications for
employment from persons who are members of groups that have
traditionally been underrepresented based on race, color, national
origin, gender, age, or disability.
(3) In addition, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The qualifications, including relevant training and experience,
of key project personnel (i.e., project director, project staff, and
project consultants or subcontractors).
(ii) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment,
supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization and key
partners.
(iii) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to
the anticipated results and benefits.
(e) Quality of management plan (20 points).
(1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan for
the proposed project.
(2) In determining the quality of the management plan for the
proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
(i) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing
project tasks.
(ii) The extent to which the time commitments of the project
director, project staff, and project consultants or subcontractors are
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed
project.
(iii) The adequacy of mechanisms for ensuring high-quality products
and services from the proposed project.
(iv) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives
are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed project, including
those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of
disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of
services, or others, as appropriate.
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,
[[Page 18446]]
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 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 the Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993, 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 Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve
Services and Results for Children with Disabilities program. The
Department will use these measures, which focus on the extent to which
projects provide high-quality products and services, the relevance of
project products and services to educational and early intervention
policy and practice, and the use of products and services, to improve
educational and early intervention policy and practice.
Projects funded under this competition are required to submit data
on these measures as directed by OSEP.
Grantees will be required to report information on their project's
performance in annual and final performance reports to the Department
(34 CFR 75.590).
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. 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.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or 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
[[Page 18447]]
your search to documents published by the Department.
Dated: April 14, 2017.
Ruth E. Ryder,
Deputy Director, Office of Special Education Programs, delegated the
duties of the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2017-07930 Filed 4-18-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P