2021-07506.pdf

19232 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 69 / Tuesday, April 13, 2021 / Notices requestor with an accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.

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Michelle Asha Cooper, Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

[FR Doc. 2021–07588 Filed 4–9–21; 11:15 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No. ED–2021–SCC–0017]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Pell Grant Reporting Under the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System

AGENCY: Federal Student Aid (FSA), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 13, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for proposed information collection requests should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/ do/PRAMain. Find this information collection request by selecting ‘‘Department of Education’’ under ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ then check ‘‘Only Show ICR for Public Comment’’ checkbox. Comments may also be sent to ICDocketmgr@ed.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Beth Grebeldinger, (202) 377–4018.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department’s information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The Department of Education is especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner;

(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;

(4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Pell Grant Reporting under the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System.

OMB Control Number: 1845–0039.

Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector; State, Local, and Tribal Governments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 6,609,456.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 462,662.

Abstract: The Federal Pell Grant (Pell Grant) program is a student financial assistance program authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The program provides grant assistance to an eligible student attending an institution of higher education. The institution determines the student’s award and disburses program funds on behalf of the Department of Education (the Department). Institutions are required to report student Pell Grant payment information to the Department electronically. Electronic reporting is conducted through the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) system. The COD system is used by institutions to request, report, and reconcile grant funds received from the Pell Grant program. The Department uses the information collected in the COD system to aid in ensuring compliance with fiscal and administrative requirements under the HEA for the Pell Grant program and under 34 CFR 690 for the Pell Grant program regulations.

Dated: April 7, 2021.

Kate Mullan, PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.

[FR Doc. 2021–07484 Filed 4–12–21; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Applications for New Awards;

Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities—Interdisciplinary Preparation in Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services for Personnel Serving Children With Disabilities Who Have High-Intensity Needs

AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities— Interdisciplinary Preparation in Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services for Personnel Serving Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs, Assistance Listing Number 84.325K. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1820–0028.

DATES:

Applications Available: April 13, 2021.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: June 22, 2021.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 23, 2021.

Pre-Application Webinar Information:

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) will conduct a pre-application informational webinar specific to 84.325K on April 26, 2021, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:42 Apr 12, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13APN1.SGM 13APN1jb el l o n

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19233 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 69 / Tuesday, April 13, 2021 / Notices

1 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘high-intensity needs’’ refers to a complex array of disabilities (e.g., multiple disabilities, significant cognitive disabilities, significant physical disabilities, significant sensory disabilities, significant autism, significant emotional disabilities, or significant learning disabilities, including dyslexia) or the needs of children with these disabilities requiring intensive, individualized intervention(s) (i.e., that are specifically designed to address persistent learning or behavior difficulties, implemented with greater frequency and for an extended duration than is commonly available in a typical classroom or early intervention setting, or which require personnel to have knowledge and skills in identifying and implementing multiple evidence-based interventions).

2 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘interdisciplinary’’ refers to preparing scholars from two or more graduate degree programs in either (a) special education or early intervention and one or more related services through shared coursework, group assignments, and extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences; or (b) two or more related services through shared coursework, group assignments, and extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences. Different graduate degree programs across more than one institution of higher education may partner to develop an interdisciplinary project.

For the purpose of this priority, ‘‘interdisciplinary’’ does not include: (a) Individual scholars who receive two or more graduate degrees;

(b) one graduate degree program that prepares scholars with different areas of focus; (c) one graduate degree program that offers interdisciplinary content but does not prepare scholars from two or more degree programs together; or (d) one graduate degree program in special education, early intervention, and related services partnering with a graduate degree program other than special education, early intervention, or related services. Programs in which scholars receive only a certificate or endorsement without a graduate degree are not eligible.

3 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘related services’’ includes the following: Speech-language pathology and audiology services; interpreting services; psychological services; applied behavior analysis; physical therapy and occupational therapy; recreation, including therapeutic recreation; social work services; counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling; and orientation and mobility services.

4 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘high-need school’’ refers to a public elementary or secondary school that is a ‘‘high-need local educational agency (LEA),’’ ‘‘high-poverty,’’ ‘‘implementing a comprehensive support and improvement plan,’’ or ‘‘implementing a targeted support and improvement plan’’ as defined in footnotes 9, 10, 11, and 12, respectively.

5 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘evidence-based’’ means, at a minimum, evidence that demonstrates a rationale (as defined in 34 CFR 77.1), where a key project component included in the project’s logic model is informed by research or evaluation findings that suggest the project component is likely to improve relevant outcomes.

at 2:00 p.m., Eastern time. A recording of the webinar will be available at www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/osep/ new-osep-grants.html within five days after the pre-application webinar.

ADDRESSES: For the addresses for obtaining and submitting an application, please refer to our Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2019 (84 FR 3768) and available at www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019- 02-13/pdf/2019-02206.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For Focus Area A: Sunyoung Ahn, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5012A, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–5076. Telephone: (202) 245– 6460. Email: Sunyoung.Ahn@ed.gov.

For Focus Area B: LaTisha Putney, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 5060D, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–5076. Telephone: (202) 245– 6172. Email: LaTisha.Putney@ed.gov.

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 purposes of this program are to (1) help address State-identified needs for personnel preparation in special education, early intervention, related services, and regular education to work with children, including infants, toddlers, and youth with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been determined through scientifically based research, to be successful in serving those children.

Priorities: This competition includes one absolute priority and two competitive preference priorities. In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(v), the absolute priority and Competitive Preference Priority 2 are from allowable activities specified in the statute (see sections 662 and 681 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1462 and 1481)). Competitive Preference Priority 1 is from the Department’s Administrative Priorities for Discretionary Grant Programs published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2020 (85 FR 13640) (Administrative Priorities).

Absolute Priority: For FY 2021 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:

Interdisciplinary Preparation in

Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services for Personnel Serving Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs.

Background:

The purpose of this priority is to increase the number and improve the quality of personnel who are fully credentialed to serve children, including infants, toddlers, and youth with disabilities who have high-intensity needs.1 Under this priority, the Department will fund high-quality interdisciplinary 2 projects that prepare special education, early intervention, and related services 3 personnel at the master’s degree, educational specialist degree, or clinical doctoral degree levels for professional practice in a variety of education settings, including natural environments (the home and community settings in which children with and without disabilities participate), early learning programs, classrooms, schools, and distance learning environments. The competition will also prepare personnel who have the knowledge and skills to support each child with a disability in meeting high expectations and to partner with other providers, families, and administrators in meaningful and effective collaborations.

State demand for fully credentialed special education, early intervention, and related services personnel to serve children, including infants, toddlers, and youth with disabilities exceeds the available supply, particularly in high-need schools 4 (Boe et al., 2013). These shortages can negatively affect the quality of services provided to children, including infants, toddlers, and youth with disabilities and their families (Boe et al., 2013). These shortages limit the field’s ability to ensure that each child has the opportunity to meet challenging objectives and receive an education that addresses individualized needs and is both meaningful and appropriately ambitious, which is essential for preparing them for the future.

The need for personnel with the knowledge and skills to serve children, including infants and toddlers, and youth with disabilities who have high-intensity needs is even greater because specialized or advanced preparation is required to collaboratively design and deliver evidence-based 5 instruction and intensive individualized intervention(s) in person and through distance learning technologies in natural environments, classrooms, and schools that address the needs of these individuals (Boe et al., 2013; Browder et al., 2014; McLeskey & Brownell, 2015). Although children, including infants and toddlers, and youth with disabilities who have high-intensity needs may require the combined expertise of numerous professionals (including special

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19234 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 69 / Tuesday, April 13, 2021 / Notices

6 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘scholar’’ is limited to an individual who: (a) Is pursuing a master’s, educational specialist degree, or clinical doctoral graduate degree in special education, early intervention, or related services (as defined in this notice); (b) receives scholarship assistance as authorized under section 662 of IDEA (34 CFR 304.3(g)); (c) will be eligible for a license, endorsement, or certification from a State or national credentialing authority following completion of the graduate degree program identified in the application; and (d) will be able to be employed in a position that serves children with disabilities for a minimum of 51 percent of their time or case load. See https://pdp.ed.gov/ OSEP/Home/Regulation for more information.

Scholars from each graduate degree program participating in the proposed interdisciplinary project must receive scholar support and be eligible to fulfill service obligation requirements following graduate degree program completion. Scholars from each graduate degree program participating in this project must complete the requirements of their unique graduate degree program and receive different graduate degrees. Individuals pursuing degrees in general education or early childhood education do not qualify as ‘‘scholars’’ eligible for scholarship assistance.

education, early intervention, and related services providers), it is often difficult for personnel from varied professional backgrounds to work together because they lack shared information, understanding, and experience.

Interdisciplinary approaches to personnel preparation provide scholars with experience working and learning in team environments similar to those in which they are likely to work once employed (Smith, 2010). That is, when providing early intervention or special education services under the IDEA, personnel serving children, including infants and toddlers, and youth with disabilities work on interdisciplinary teams with parents, general and special education teachers, early interventionists, and related service providers with the expertise to design, implement, and evaluate instruction, intervention plans, individualized family service plans, and individualized education programs based on the unique learning and developmental needs of each child. To enable personnel to provide efficient, high-quality, integrated services both in person and through distance learning technologies, personnel preparation programs need to embed content, practices, and extensive field or clinical experiences into preservice training that is aligned with the interdisciplinary team-based approaches in which graduates are likely to work. This priority aims to fund interdisciplinary projects that will provide such preparation.

Priority:

The purpose of this priority is to increase the number and improve the quality of personnel who are fully credentialed to serve children, including infants and toddlers, and youth with disabilities who have high-intensity needs—especially in areas of chronic personnel shortage. The priority will fund high-quality interdisciplinary projects that prepare special education, early intervention, and related services personnel at the master’s degree, educational specialist degree, or clinical doctoral degree levels for professional practice in natural environments, early learning programs, classrooms, school settings, and in distance learning environments serving children, including infants and toddlers, and youth with disabilities.

Specifically, an applicant must propose an interdisciplinary project supporting scholars 6 from two or more graduate degree programs in either (a) special education or early intervention and one or more related services; or (b) two or more related services.

An interdisciplinary project is a project that delivers core content through shared coursework, group assignments, and extensive and coordinated field and clinical experiences as part of two or more master’s degree, educational specialist degree, or clinical doctoral degree programs for scholars. Not all requirements (e.g., courses and field or clinical experiences) of each participating graduate degree program must be shared across all degree programs participating in the interdisciplinary project, but the interdisciplinary project must: (a) Identify the competencies needed to promote high expectations and address the individualized needs of children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs using an interdisciplinary approach to service delivery; (b) outline how the project will build capacity in those areas through shared coursework, group assignments, and extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences for scholars supported by the proposed project; and

(c) identify the aspects of each graduate degree program that are shared across all participating degree programs and those that remain unique to each.

Projects may include individuals who are in degree programs (e.g., general education, early childhood education, administration) and who are cooperating with, but not funded as scholars by, the applicant’s proposed interdisciplinary project. These individuals may participate in the shared coursework, group assignments, extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences, and other opportunities required of scholars and funded by the project (e.g., speaker series, monthly seminars) if doing so does not diminish the benefit for project-funded scholars (e.g., by reducing funds available for scholar support or limiting opportunities for scholars to participate in project activities).

Personnel preparation degree programs that prepare all scholars to be dually certified can qualify under this priority by partnering with at least one additional graduate degree program in related services.

Personnel preparation programs that prepare individuals to be educational interpreters for the deaf at the bachelor’s degree level can qualify under this priority and are exempted from (a) the interdisciplinary requirement and (b) the requirement for two or more graduate degree programs. All other priority requirements specified for graduate programs will apply to the bachelor’s program. While interdisciplinary projects are not required for educational interpreters, they are encouraged.

Focus Areas:

Within this absolute priority, the

Secretary intends to support interdisciplinary projects under the following two focus areas: (A) Preparing Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs; and (B) Preparing Personnel to Serve School-Age Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs.

Applicants must identify the specific focus area (i.e., A or B) under which they are applying as part of the competition title on the application cover sheet (SF 424, line 12). Applicants may not submit the same proposal under more than one focus area.

Applicants may submit different proposals in different focus areas.

Focus Area A: Preparing Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool- Age Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs. This focus area is for interdisciplinary projects that deliver core content through shared coursework, group assignments, and extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences for scholars across two or more graduate degree programs in either: (a) Early intervention or early childhood special education and related services for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children with disabilities or developmental delays who have high-intensity needs; or (b) two or more related services to serve infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs.

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7 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘Historically Black College or University’’ is as defined under section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

8 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘competencies’’ means what a person knows and can do—the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively function in a role (National Professional Development Center on Inclusion, 2011). These competencies should ensure that personnel are able to use challenging academic standards, child achievement and functional standards, and assessments to improve instructional practices, services, learning and developmental outcomes (e.g., academic, social, emotional, behavioral), and college- and career-readiness of children with disabilities.

Early intervention personnel are those who are prepared to provide services to infants and toddlers with disabilities ages birth to three, and early childhood personnel are those who are prepared to provide services to children with disabilities ages three through five (and in States where the age range is other than ages three through five, we defer to the State’s certification for early childhood special education). In States where certification in early intervention is combined with certification in early childhood special education, applicants may propose a combined early intervention and early childhood special education personnel preparation project under this focus area.

Note: OSEP may fund out of rank order high-quality applications from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) 7 and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). OSEP also may fund out of rank order high-quality applications to ensure that projects are funded across both Focus Area A and Focus Area B.

Focus Area B: Preparing Personnel to Serve School-Age Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs. This focus area is for interdisciplinary projects that deliver core content through shared coursework, group assignments, and extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences to scholars across two or more graduate degree programs in either: (a) Special education and related services for school-age children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs; or (b) two or more related services to serve school-age children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs.

Note: OSEP may fund out of rank order high-quality applications from HBCUs and TCUs. OSEP also may fund out of rank order high-quality applications to ensure that projects are funded across both Focus Area A and Focus Area B.

Focus Areas A and B:

Applicants may use up to the first 12 months of the performance period and up to $100,000 of the first budget period for planning without enrolling scholars.

Applicants must clearly provide sufficient justification for requesting program planning time and include the goals, objectives, and intended outcomes of program planning in year one, a description of the proposed strategies and activities to be supported, and a timeline for the work; such as—

(1) Outlining or updating coursework, group assignments, or extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences needed to support interdisciplinary preparation for special education, early intervention, or related services personnel serving children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs;

(2) Building capacity (e.g., hiring of a field supervisor, providing professional development for field supervisors, and training for faculty);

(3) Purchasing needed resources (e.g., additional teaching supplies or specialized equipment to enhance instruction); or

(4) Establishing relationships with programs or schools to serve as sites for field or clinical experiences needed to support delivery of the proposed interdisciplinary project.

Additional Federal funds may be requested for scholar support and other grant activities occurring in year one of the project, provided that the total request for year one does not exceed the maximum award available for one budget period of 12 months (i.e., $250,000).

Note: Applicants proposing projects to develop, expand, or add a new area of emphasis to special education, early intervention, or related services programs must provide, in their applications, information on how these new areas will be sustained in their programs once Federal funding ends.

Note: Project periods under this priority may be up to 60 months.

Projects should be designed to ensure that all proposed scholars successfully complete the program within 60 months of the start of the project. The Secretary may reduce continuation awards for any project in which scholars are not on track to complete the program by the end of that period.

To be considered for funding under this absolute priority, all program applicants must meet the requirements contained in this priority.

To meet the requirements of this priority an applicant must—

(a) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under ‘‘Significance,’’ how—

(1) The project addresses national, State, regional, or district shortages of personnel who are fully qualified to serve children with disabilities, ages birth through 21, who have high-intensity needs. To address this requirement, the applicant must—

(i) Present data on the quality of each special education, early intervention, or related services personnel preparation degree program participating in the project, in areas such as: The average amount of time it takes for scholars to complete the program; the percentage of program graduates who receive a license, endorsement, or certification related to special education, related services, or early intervention services;

the percentage of program graduates finding employment related to their preparation after graduation; the effectiveness of program graduates in providing special education, early intervention, or related services, which could include data on the learning and developmental outcomes of children with disabilities they serve; the percentage of program graduates who maintain employment for two or more years in the area for which they were prepared; and the percentage of employers who rate the preparation of scholars who complete their degree program as adequate or higher; and

(ii) If available for the degree programs participating in the proposed project, present data on the quality of their interdisciplinary approaches to the preparation of special education, early intervention, or related services personnel; and

Note: Data on the quality of a personnel preparation program should be no older than five years prior to the start date of the project proposed in the application. When reporting percentages, the denominator (i.e., total number of scholars or program graduates) must be provided.

(2) The project will increase the number of personnel who demonstrate the competencies 8 needed to—

(i) Promote high expectations;

(ii) Differentiate instruction;

(iii) Provide intensive individualized instruction and intervention(s);

(iv) Provide instruction or intervention(s) in person and through distance learning technologies; and

(v) Collaborate with diverse stakeholders using an interdisciplinary team-based approach to address the individualized needs of children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs, ages birth through 21, and designed to achieve improvements in learning or developmental outcomes (e.g., academic, social, emotional, behavioral), and support the successful

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9 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘high-need LEA’’ means an LEA (a) that serves not fewer than 10,000 children from families with incomes below the poverty line; or (b) for which not less than 20 percent of the children are from families with incomes below the poverty line.

10 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘high-poverty school’’ means a school in which at least 50 percent of students are from low-income families as determined using one of the measures of poverty specified under section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). For middle and high schools, eligibility may be calculated on the basis of comparable data from feeder schools. Eligibility as a high-poverty school under this definition is determined on the basis of the most currently available data.

transition from early childhood to elementary, elementary to secondary, or transition to postsecondary education and the workforce. To address this requirement, the applicant must—

(A) Identify the competencies that special education, early intervention, or related services personnel need to—

(1) Promote high expectations;

(2) Differentiate instruction;

(3) Provide intensive individualized instruction and intervention(s);

(4) Provide instruction or intervention(s) in person and through distance learning technologies; and

(5) Collaborate with parents, families, and diverse stakeholders using an interdisciplinary team-based approach designed to improve learning and developmental outcomes; ensure access to and progress in academic achievement standards or alternate academic achievement standards, as appropriate; lead to successful transition to college and career for children with disabilities, including children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs; and maximize the use of effective technology, including assistive technology, to deliver instruction, interventions, and services;

(B) Identify the competencies needed by members of interdisciplinary teams to promote high expectations and improve early childhood, educational, and employment outcomes for children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs;

(C) Identify the competencies that personnel need to support inclusion of children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs in the least restrictive and natural environments to the maximum extent appropriate by intentionally promoting high expectations and participation in learning and social activities to foster development, learning, academic achievement, friendships with peers, and sense of belonging;

(D) Identify how scholars will be prepared to develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based instruction and evidence-based interventions delivered in person and through distance learning technologies that improve outcomes for children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs in a variety of settings (e.g., natural environments;

public schools, including charter schools; private schools, including parochial schools; and other nonpublic education settings, including home education); and

(E) Provide a conceptual framework for the proposed interdisciplinary personnel preparation project, including any empirical support for project activities designed to promote the acquisition of the identified competencies (see paragraph (a)(2) of the requirements for this priority) needed by special education, early intervention, or related services personnel, and how these competencies relate to the proposed project;

(b) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under ‘‘Quality of project services,’’ how the project—

(1) Will conduct its planning activities, if the applicant will use any of the allowable first 12 months of the project period for planning;

(2) Will recruit and retain high-quality scholars into each of the graduate degree programs participating in the project and ensure 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. To meet this requirement, the applicant must describe—

(i) Criteria the applicant will use to identify high-quality applicants for admission into each of the graduate degree programs participating in the project;

(ii) Recruitment strategies the applicant will use to attract high-quality applicants, including specific recruitment strategies targeting high-quality applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups, including underrepresented people of color and individuals with disabilities; and

(iii) The approach, including mentoring, monitoring, and accommodations, the applicant will use to support scholars to complete their respective degree programs;

(3) Reflects current evidence-based practices, including practices in the areas of literacy and numeracy development, assessment, behavior, instructional practices, distance learning technologies and pedagogy, and inclusive strategies, as appropriate, and is designed to prepare scholars in the identified competencies. To address this requirement, the applicant must describe how the project will—

(i) Incorporate current evidence-based practices (including relevant research citations) that improve outcomes for children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs into (a) the required coursework and extensive field or clinical experiences for each graduate degree program participating in the project; and (b) the shared coursework, group assignments, and extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences required for the interdisciplinary portions of the project; and

(ii) Use evidence-based professional development practices for adult learners to instruct scholars through both in-person and online courses and field or clinical experiences;

(4) Is of sufficient quality, intensity, and duration to prepare scholars in the identified competencies. To address this requirement, the applicant must describe how—

(i) The components of (a) each graduate degree program participating in the project; and (b) the shared coursework, group assignments, and extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences required for the interdisciplinary portions of the proposed project will support scholars’ acquisition and enhancement of the identified competencies;

(ii) The components of (a) each graduate degree program participating in the project; and (b) the shared coursework, group assignments, and extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences required for the interdisciplinary portions of the proposed project will be integrated to allow scholars, in collaboration with other team members, to use their knowledge and skills in designing, implementing, and evaluating practices supported by evidence to address the learning and developmental needs of children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs;

(iii) Scholars will be provided with ongoing guidance and feedback during training; and

(iv) The proposed project will provide ongoing induction opportunities and mentoring support to graduates of each graduate degree program participating in the project;

(5) Will engage in meaningful and effective collaboration with appropriate partners representing diverse stakeholders, including—

(i) High-need schools, which may include high-need local educational agencies (LEAs),9 high-poverty schools,10 schools identified for comprehensive support and

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11 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘school implementing a comprehensive support and improvement plan’’ means a school identified for comprehensive support and improvement by a State under section 1111(c)(4)(D) of the ESEA that includes (a) not less than the lowest performing 5 percent of all schools in the State receiving funds under Title I, Part A of the ESEA; (b) all public high schools in the State failing to graduate one third or more of their students; and (c) public schools in the State described under section 1111(d)(3)(A)(i)(II) of the ESEA.

12 For the purposes of this priority, ‘‘school implementing a targeted support and improvement plan’’ means a school identified for targeted support and improvement by a State that has developed and is implementing a school-level targeted support and improvement plan to improve student outcomes based on the indicators in the statewide accountability system as defined in section 1111(d)(2) of the ESEA.

improvement,11 and schools implementing a targeted support and improvement plan 12 for children with disabilities; early childhood and early intervention programs located within the geographic boundaries of a high-need LEA; and early childhood and early intervention programs located within the geographical boundaries of an LEA serving the highest percentage of schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement or implementing targeted support and improvement plans in the State. The purpose of these partnerships is to provide extensive field or clinical practice for scholars aimed at developing the identified competencies as members of interdisciplinary teams;

and

(ii) Other personnel preparation programs on campus or at partnering universities for the purpose of sharing resources, supporting program development and delivery, and addressing personnel shortages;

(6) Will use technology, as appropriate, to promote scholar learning and professional practice, enhance the efficiency of the project, collaborate with partners, and facilitate ongoing mentoring and support for scholars;

(7) Will ensure that scholars understand how to use technology to support children’s in-person and distance learning and children’s use of educational and assistive technology;

and

(8) Will align with and use resources, as appropriate, available through technical assistance centers, which may include centers funded by the Department;

Note: Use the ‘‘Find a Center or Grant’’ link at https:// osepideasthatwork.org for information about OSEP-funded technical assistance centers.

(c) Demonstrate, in the narrative section of the application under

‘‘Quality of the project evaluation,’’ how—

(1) The applicant will use comprehensive and appropriate methodologies to evaluate how well the goals or objectives of the proposed project have been met, including the project processes and outcomes;

(2) The applicant will collect, analyze, and use data related to specific and measurable goals, objectives, and outcomes of the project. To address this requirement, the applicant must describe how—

(i) Scholar competencies and other project processes and outcomes will be measured for formative evaluation purposes, including proposed instruments, data collection methods, and possible analyses; and

(ii) It will collect and analyze data on the quality of services provided by scholars who complete the graduate degree programs involved in this interdisciplinary project and are employed in the field for which they were trained, including data on the learning and developmental outcomes (e.g., academic, social, emotional, behavioral, meeting college- and career-ready standards), and on growth toward these outcomes, of the children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs;

Note: Following the completion of the project period, grantees are encouraged to engage in ongoing data collection activities.

(3) The methods of evaluation will produce quantitative and qualitative data for objective performance measures that are related to the outcomes of the proposed project; and

(4) The methods of evaluation will provide performance feedback and allow for periodic assessment of progress towards meeting the project outcomes. To address this requirement, the applicant must describe how—

(i) Results of the evaluation will be used as a basis for improving the proposed project to prepare special education, early intervention, or related services personnel to provide (a) focused instruction; and (b) intensive individualized intervention(s) in an interdisciplinary team-based approach to improve outcomes of children with disabilities who have high-intensity needs; and

(ii) The grantee will report the evaluation results to OSEP in its annual and final performance reports;

(d) Demonstrate, in the narrative under ‘‘Project Assurances’’ or in the applicable appendices, that the following program requirements are met. The applicant must—

(1) Provide scholar support for participants from two or more graduate degree programs partnering in the proposed interdisciplinary personnel preparation project. Consistent with 34 CFR 304.30, each scholar must (a) receive support for no less than one academic year, and (b) be eligible to fulfill service obligation requirements following degree program completion.

Funding across degree programs may be applied differently;

(2) Include in Appendix B of the application—

(i) Table(s) that summarize the required program of study for each degree program and that clearly delineate the shared coursework, group assignments, and extensive and coordinated field or clinical experiences required of all project scholars to support interdisciplinary practice;

(ii) Course syllabi for all coursework in the major of each degree program and all shared courses, group assignments, and extensive coordinated field or clinical experiences required of project scholars; and

(iii) Learning outcomes for proposed coursework;

(3) Ensure that a comprehensive set of completed syllabi, including syllabi created or revised as part of a project planning year, are submitted to OSEP by the end of year one of the grant;

(4) Ensure that efforts to recruit a diverse range of scholars, including diversity of race, ethnicity, or national origin, are consistent with applicable law. For instance, grantees may engage in focused outreach and recruitment to increase the diversity of the applicant pool prior to the selection of scholars;

(5) Ensure that the project will meet all requirements in 34 CFR 304.23, particularly those related to (a) informing all scholarship recipients of their service obligation commitment and

(b) disbursing scholar support. Failure by a grantee to properly meet these requirements would be a violation of the grant award that could result in sanctions, including the grantee being liable for returning any misused funds to the Department;

(6) Ensure that prior approval from the OSEP project officer will be obtained before admitting additional scholars beyond the number of scholars proposed in the application and before transferring a scholar to another OSEP-funded grant;

(7) Ensure that the project will meet the statutory requirements in section 662(e) through (h) of IDEA;

(8) Ensure that at least 65 percent of the total award over the project period (i.e., up to 5 years) will be used for scholar support. Applicants proposing

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13 For the purpose of this priority, ‘‘nontraditional scholars’’ refer to individuals who are career switchers, para-educators, former members of the military, returning to the workforce, or returning from the Peace Corps, and who hold a bachelor’s degree in an area other than in education or related services.

to use year one for program development may budget for less than 65 percent of the total requested budget over the 5 years for scholar support;

such applicants must ensure that 65 percent of the total award minus funds allocated for program development will be used for scholar support;

(9) Ensure that the institution of higher education (IHE) at which scholars are enrolled in the program will not require those scholars to work (e.g., as graduate assistants) as a condition of receiving support (e.g., tuition, stipends) from the proposed project, unless the work is specifically related to the acquisition of scholars’ competencies or the requirements for completion of their personnel preparation program. This prohibition on work as a condition of receiving support does not apply to the service obligation requirements in section 662(h) of IDEA;

(10) Ensure that the budget includes attendance of the project director at a three-day project directors’ meeting in Washington, DC, or virtually, during each year of the project;

(11) Ensure that the project director, key personnel, and, as appropriate, scholars will actively participate in the cross-project collaboration, advanced trainings, and cross-site learning opportunities (e.g., webinars, briefings) organized by OSEP. This network will be used to build capacity of participants, increase the impact of funding, and promote innovative and interdisciplinary service delivery models across projects;

(12) Ensure that if the project maintains a website, relevant information and documents are in a format that meets government or industry-recognized standards for accessibility; and

(13) Ensure that annual data will be submitted on each scholar who receives grant support (OMB Control Number 1820–0686). The primary purposes of the data collection are to track the service obligation fulfillment of scholars who receive funds from OSEP grants and to collect data for program performance measure reporting under the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010 (GPRA). Applicants are encouraged to visit the Personnel Development Program Data Collection System (DCS) website at https://pdp.ed.gov/osep for further information about this data collection requirement. Typically, data collection begins in January of each year, and grantees are notified by email about the data collection period for their grant, although grantees may submit data as needed, year round. This data collection must be submitted electronically by the grantee and does not supplant the annual grant performance report required of each grantee for continuation funding (see 34 CFR 75.590).