Program funds support projects in a variety of areas, including training grants for: leadership personnel; personnel to serve infants, toddlers, and pre-school age children with disabilities; personnel to serve school age children with low incidence disabilities; personnel to serve school age children with high incidence disabilities; and personnel to provide related services, speech/language services, and adapted physical education to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.
The Department of Education ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence through coordination, management and accountability in Federal education programs. The Department works to supplement and complement educational efforts on all levels, encouraging increased involvement by the public, parents and students.
In FY 2007, approximately 400 awards were made.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds must be used to prepare personnel to serve children with both low and high-incidence disabilities, leadership personnel, and for special projects.
Awards are made only to eligible applicants that meet State and professionally recognized standards for the preparation of special education and related services personnel, if the purpose of the project is to assist personnel in obtaining degrees.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State educational agencies, local education agencies, public charter schools that are LEAs under State law, institutions of higher education, other public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, outlying areas, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and for-profit organizations.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities are the primary beneficiaries under this program.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is covered under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as a single point of contact in his or her State to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedures
The standard application forms as furnished by and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedures
Applications are reviewed by a panel of experts.
Deadlines
Deadlines are published in application notices in the Federal Register or you may contact the Headquarters Office for application deadlines. Application notices may also be accessed through the Department of Education Web site at http://www.ed.gov.
Authorization
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part D, Subpart 2, Section 662.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Range is from 90 to 120 days.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Awards may be renewed annually for up to five years throughout the project period of the award, subject to the availabillity of appropriations.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
A recipient of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement may be required to share in the cost of a project. (See 20 U.S.C. 1482 (a)(2)(A).)
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Typically from one to five years. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Progress reports shall be made on an annual basis.
Final reports shall be made at the end of the project period.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records
The awardee shall maintain accounts, records, and other evidence pertaining to all costs incurred, revenues or other applicable credits acquired under its award, as stated in grant or contract terms and conditions.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0300-0-1-501.
Obigations
(Grants) FY 07 $89,720,000; FY 08 est $88,153,000; and FY 09 est $88,153,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable because the range and average varies greatly by competition.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
34 CFR Part 304.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Department of Education, OSERS Office of Special Education Programs 400 Maryland Ave, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-2500 Contact: Bonnie Jones. E-mail: bonnie.jones@ed.gov. Telephone: (202) 245-7395.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Criteria for selecting among grant applications will normally be selected from those in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR Part 75.210.
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