Special Education-Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities (84.325)

Program

84.325 Special Education-Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office Of Special Education And Rehabilitative Services

Authorization

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Executive Order Part D, Subpart 2, Section 662, 20 U.S.C. 1461-1462.

Program Number

84.325

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

(1) To help address State-identified needs for qualified personnel in special education, related services, early intervention, and regular education, to work with children with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have the skills and knowledge that are needed to serve children with disabilities and that such skills and knowledge are derived from practices determined to be successful through research and experience.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

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

No Credentials or documentation are required. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program.

Award Procedure

Applications are reviewed and evaluated by outside experts and program staff, in accordance with the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) (34 CFR 75, Subpart D).

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 90 to 120 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

As required by EDGAR, awards may be renewed annually for up to five years throughout the project period of the award, if the recipient has made substantial progress in meeting the goals of the project, subject to the availabillity of appropriations. (See 34 CFR 75.253).

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

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).).

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Typically from one to five years. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

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. Cash reports are not applicable. Grantees must submit an annual performance report (APR) as requried under EDGAR 34 CFR 74.50. Expenditure reports are monitored through the APR. Performance reports are monitored through the APR.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit 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 Circular No. A-133. 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. Institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit requirements at OMB Circular No. A-133.

Records

As required by EDGAR, 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. Generally, records relted to grant funds, complieance, and performance must be maintained for a period of five years after completion. (34 CFR 75.721).

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In FY 2008, approximately 400 awards were made. Fiscal Year 2009: In FY 2009, approximately 400 awards were made. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0300-0-1-501.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $88,153,000; FY 09 est $90,653,000; FY 10 est $90,653,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

34 CFR Part 304, Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), 34 CFR 74, 75, 77,79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and 86.

Related Programs

84.027 Special Education_Grants to States; 84.173 Special Education_Preschool Grants; 84.181 Special Education-Grants for Infants and Families; 84.323 Special Education - State Personnel Development; 84.324 Research in Special Education; 84.326 Special Education_Technical Assistance and Dissemination to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities; 84.327 Special Education_Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities; 84.328 Special Education_Parent Information Centers; 84.329 Special Education_Studies and Evaluations

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Bonnie Jones Department of Education, OSERS Office of Special Education Programs, Potomac Center Plaza, 550 12th Street, SW, , Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: bonnie.jones@ed.gov Phone: (202) 245-7395

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: 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. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

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, and announced in the application package or the application notice in the Federal Register.