[Federal Register: November 22, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 226)]
[Notices]
[Page 70407-70409]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22no00-110]
[[Page 70407]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Part III
Department of Education
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Final Competitive Preferences for Fiscal Year 2001 and
Subsequent Fiscal Years; Notice
[[Page 70408]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Final Competitive Preference for Fiscal Year 2001 and
Subsequent Fiscal Years
AGENCY: Department of Education.
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) announces the addition of a
competitive preference to certain grant competitions for fiscal year
2001 and subsequent fiscal years. This notice contains and describes
the additional competitive preference and lists the programs to which
it applies.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This competitive preference takes effect on December
22, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Queen, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3317, Switzer Building,
Washington, DC 20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 205-8285 or via Internet:
Ann_Queen@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) on request to the contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice contains language for adding a
final competitive preference to competitions under the following 11
programs, which are authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as
amended. Information on how we evaluate applications for each of these
programs follows in parentheses:
84.128G--Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Program (34 CFR 75.200).
84.128J--Recreational Programs (34 CFR 75.200).
84.132--Centers for Independent Living (34 CFR 366.26).
84.133A--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and
Centers Program (34 CFR 350.53).
84.133B--Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (34 CFR
350.53).
84.133D--Knowledge Dissemination and Utilization (34 CFR 350.53).
84.133E--Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (34 CFR
350.53).
84.133N--Special Projects and Demonstrations for Spinal Cord
Injuries (34 CFR 359.30).
84.234--Projects With Industry (34 CFR 379.30).
84.235--Special Demonstration Programs (34 CFR 75.200)
84.250--Vocational Rehabilitation Service Projects for American
Indians with Disabilities (34 CFR 75.200).
On September 7, 2000 the Assistant Secretary for OSERS published a
notice of proposed competitive preference for these programs in the
Federal Register (65 FR 54394). Except for minor editorial and
technical revisions, there are no differences between the notice of
proposed competitive preference and this notice of final competitive
preference.
Analysis of Comments and Changes
In response to our invitation in the notice of proposed competitive
preference, two parties submitted comments on the proposed additional
competitive preference. An analysis of the comments follows.
Comment: One commenter supported the proposed competitive
preference.
Discussion: None.
Change: None.
Comment: The other commenter noted that it may be difficult to
substantiate information on people with disabilities serving as project
staff. Some people with disabilities prefer not to disclose those
disabilities.
Discussion: Based upon experience with current and former grantees,
the Assistant Secretary believes that substantiation will be a minor
issue.
Change: None.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which the Assistant Secretary chooses to use this priority, we
invite applications through a notice in the Federal Register.
Competitive Preference
Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i) the Assistant Secretary adds a
competitive preference to applications that are otherwise eligible for
funding under the ll previously mentioned programs.
The maximum score under the selection criteria for each of these
programs is 100 points; however, we will also use the following
competitive preference so that up to an additional 10 points may be
earned by an applicant for a total possible score of 110 points.
Up to 10 points may be earned based on the extent to which an
application includes effective strategies for employing and advancing
in employment qualified individuals with disabilities as project
employees in projects awarded under these programs. In determining the
effectiveness of those strategies, we will consider the applicant's
prior success, as described in the application, in employing and
advancing in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.
Therefore, within this competitive preference, applicants can be
awarded up to a total of 10 points in addition to those awarded under
the published selection criteria noted previously in parentheses after
each program. That is, an applicant meeting this competitive preference
could earn a maximum total of 110 points.
Goals 2000: Educate America Act
The Goals 2000: Educate America Act (Goals 2000) focuses the
Nation's education reform efforts on the eight National Education Goals
and provides a framework for meeting them. Goals 2000 promotes new
partnerships to strengthen schools and expands the Department's
capacities for helping communities to exchange ideas and obtain
information needed to achieve the goals.
This competitive preference supports the National Education Goal
that calls for every American to possess the skills necessary to
compete in a global economy.
Intergovernmental Review
These programs are subject to Executive Order 12372 and the
regulations in 34 CFR part 79. One of the objectives of the Executive
order is to foster an intergovernmental partnership and a strengthened
federalism. The Executive order relies on processes developed by State
and local governments for coordination and review of proposed Federal
financial assistance.
This document provides early notification of our specific plans and
actions for these programs.
[[Page 70409]]
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at either of the
following sites:
http://ocfo.ed.gov/fedreg.htm
http://www.ed.gov/news.html
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at either of the preceding sites. If you have questions about
using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free,
at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR parts 350, 359, 366, 371,
and 379.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 709(c), 741, 764, 773, 774, 775,
795, and 796f-796f-5.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers: 84.128G-Migrant and
Seasonal Farmworkers Program; 84.128J-Recreational Program; 84.132-
Centers for Independent Living; 84.133A-Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program; 84.133B-
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers; 84.133D-Knowledge
Dissemination and Utilization; 84.133E-Rehabilitation Engineering
Research Centers; 84.133N-Special Projects and Demonstrations for
Spinal Cord Injuries; 84.234-Projects With Industry; 84.235-Special
Demonstration Programs; and 84.250-Vocational Rehabilitation Service
Projects for American Indians with Disabilities).
Dated: November 16, 2000.
Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 00-29817 Filed 11-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U