Objectives: To develop, operate, and disseminate specially designed model programs of vocational, technical, postsecondary, continuing, or adult education for deaf or other individuals with disabilities.
84.078 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: State educational agencies, institutions of higher education, including junior and community colleges, vocational and technical institutions, and other nonprofit educational agencies may apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Youth and adults with disabilities in postsecondary education will benefit.
Credentials/Documentation: None.
84.078 APPLICATION & AWARD PROCESS:
Preapplication Coordination: 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. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program.
Application Procedure: Applications should be sent to: Department of Education Application Control Center, 600 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure: Awards are made competitively and applications are reviewed by nonfederal experts and program staff. On the basis of their recommendations and those of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Awards are made by the Secretary of Education.
Deadlines: Application deadlines and other application information are published in a notice in the Federal Register.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: About 150 days.
Appeals: Not applicable.
Renewals: Funding is on a one year basis with renewal from three to five years possible.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals: New projects funded will have individual criteria pertaining to the competition listed in the Federal Register each announcement for that competition. Criteria for grant programs include: A) Plan of operation; B) quality of personnel; C) budget and cost-effectiveness; D) evaluation plan; E) adequacy of resources; F) impact; G) importance; and H) continuation of program. Subsequent submissions for continuations are judged by the following criteria: A) progress reports; B) continuation proposal; C) site visits; and D) outside consultants (optional; usually a part of a site visit).
Examples of Funded Projects: Demonstration projects support models designed to enhance the role and capacity of career placement offices to provide pre-employment and employment opportunities for students with disabilities in community and four year colleges, universities, technical and vocational institutes and adult and continuation education programs. Model projects must create and facilitate the cooperative efforts of disabled student services program offices, career placement offices, State vocational rehabilitation agencies, business and industry, where appropriate, and the disabled student community. The regional centers for the deaf provide specially designed or modified programs of support services that enable students who are deaf from a multi-State region to participate in regular postsecondary offerings alongside their non-disabled peers.
Range & Average of Financial Assistance: From $90,000 to $1,000,000; $100,000 for model programs and $1,000,000 for regional centers for the deaf.
84.078 RELATED PROGRAMS:
84.078 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
In fiscal year 1996, 16 new awards and
34 continuations were made.
84.078 FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:
Federal Agency:
OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Type of Assistance:
Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements);
Project Grants (Contracts); Project Grants.
Obligations:
(Grants and contracts) FY 95 $8,839,000; FY 96 est
$8,839,000; and FY 97 est $8,839,000.
Budget Account Number:
91-0300-0-1-501.
Authorization:
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part
C, Section 625, as amended. A reauthorization of the IDEA is pending.
Regulations, Guidelines, & Literature:
34 CFR 338. Published
in the Federal Register, June 25, 1984, Vol. 49, p. 25990-2599.
Amendments published in Federal Register, March 2, 1987, p. 6142,
October 22, 1991.
Regional or Local Office:
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office:
Division of Educational Services, Special
Education Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education, 600
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Michael Ward.
Phone: (202) 205-8163. Use the same number for FTS.
84.078 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula & Matching Requirements:
None.
Length & Time Phasing of Assistance:
Following a competitively
selected award for a 12-month period. Awards may be made for up to two
to four years with renewals subject to the availability of funds.
Uses & Use Restrictions:
The Secretary is authorized to make
awards for: (1) Development and adaptation of programs of postsecondary,
vocational, technical, continuing, and adult education to meet the
special needs of individuals with disabilities; (2) programs that
coordinate, facilitate, and encourage education of individuals with
disabilities with their non-disabled peers; and (3) outreach activities
that include the provisions of technical assistance to strengthen
efforts in development, operation, and design of model programs that are
adapted to the special needs of individuals with disabilities. In
making grants or contracts, the Secretary must give priority
consideration to four regional centers for individuals who are deaf.
84.078 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
As required by the Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for direct grant programs (34 CFR
75). Generally, financial and performance reports are required
annually.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No.
A-128, "Audits of State and Local Governments," State and local
governments that receive financial assistance of $100,000 or more
within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year.
State and local governments that receive between $25,000 and $100,000
within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made in accordance
with Circular No. A-128, or in accordance with Federal laws and
regulations governing the programs in which they participate.
Institution of higher education and nonprofit organizations are subject
to audit requirements of OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records:
As required by EDGAR for direct grant program (34 CFR
75). Generally, records related to grant funds, compliance, and
performance must be maintained for a period of five years after
completion of the project.
What now?