[Federal Register: March 6, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 43)]
[Notices]
[Page 9936-9938]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06mr07-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Centers for Independent Living Program--Training and Technical
Assistance
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed priorities.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) proposes two priorities under the
Centers for Independent Living (CIL) Program--Training and Technical
Assistance. The Assistant Secretary may use one or more of these
priorities for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2007 and in later
years. We take this action to improve the efficiency, quality of
evaluation, and outcomes for individuals with significant disabilities
as a result of the delivery of independent living services of the CILs
and to improve the performance of Statewide Independent Living Councils
(SILCs).
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before April 5, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about these proposed priorities to Sean
Barrett, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room
5042, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2800. If you prefer to
send your comments through the Internet, use the following address:
sean.barrett@ed.gov.
You must include the term ``IL T&TA'' in the subject line of your
electronic message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Barrett. Telephone: (202) 245-
7604 or via Internet: sean.barrett@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may
call (866) 889-6737.
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:
Invitation To Comment
We invite you to submit comments regarding these proposed
priorities. To ensure that your comments have maximum effect in
developing the notice of final priorities, we urge you to identify
clearly the specific proposed priority that each comment addresses.
We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Order 12866 and its overall requirement of
reducing regulatory burden that might result from these proposed
priorities. Please let us know of any further opportunities we should
take to reduce potential costs or increase potential benefits while
preserving the effective and efficient administration of the program.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public
comments about these proposed priorities in Room 5042, Potomac Center
Plaza, 550 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30
a.m. and 4 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week
except Federal holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking
Record
On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or
print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public
rulemaking record for these proposed priorities. If you want to
schedule an appointment for this type of aid, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
We will announce the final priorities in a notice in the Federal
Register. We will determine the final priorities after considering
responses to this notice and other information available to the
Department. This notice does not preclude us from proposing or using
additional priorities, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking
requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use one or more of these proposed priorities, we
invite applications through a notice in the Federal Register. When
inviting applications, we designate each priority as absolute,
competitive preference, or invitational. The effect of each type of
priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority we consider only
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference
priority we give competitive preference to an application by either
(1) awarding additional points, depending on how well or the extent
to which the application meets the competitive preference priority
(34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that meets
the competitive preference priority over an application of
comparable merit that does not meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority we are
particularly interested in applications that meet the invitational
priority. However, we do not give an application that meets the
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over
other applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
[[Page 9937]]
Training and Technical Assistance Under the CIL Program
Under the CIL Program, the Department currently funds two training
and technical assistance grants: one that supports training and
technical assistance to CILs and SILCs on the issue of service delivery
to young people with disabilities as they transition from school to
living independently and one that provides general, comprehensive
training and technical assistance to both CILs and SILCs.
The two priorities proposed in this notice would be used for
competitions in which the Department would make awards to applicants to
provide general, comprehensive training and technical assistance to
CILs and to SILCs. Rather than requiring all applicants to demonstrate
how they will meet the training and technical assistance needs of both
CILs and SILCs, we believe that it would be a better use of funds to
establish two separate priorities and award separate grants--one under
the Centers for Independent Living (CILs) Training and Technical
Assistance Center priority that would focus on the training and
technical assistance needs of CILs and one under the Statewide
Independent Living Councils (SILCs) Training and Technical Assistance
Center priority that would focus on the training and technical
assistance needs of SILCs. We believe that this approach would
encourage applicants to address completely and comprehensively the
unique training and technical assistance needs of CILs and of SILCs.
We have determined from our annual survey of CILs and SILCs, and
from our ongoing monitoring and technical assistance activities, that a
significant proportion of CILs and SILCs require intensive training and
technical assistance on the most fundamental organizational and
operational aspects of program compliance, as well as on issues related
to improved performance.
The training and technical assistance needs of CILs and SILCs
differ widely because their program responsibilities and challenges are
distinct. We believe that conducting competitions using two separate
priorities would allow both CILs and SILCs to obtain the intensive,
specialized assistance they need by focusing applicants on the
particular training and technical assistance needs of each.
In addition to the difference in the character of the training and
technical assistance required by CILs and SILCs, there would be a
significant difference in the number of CILs and SILCs receiving the
training under the two priorities. Under the CILs Training and
Technical Assistance Center priority, a grantee would provide training
and technical assistance to over 330 CILs across the country and any
eligible agencies, defined in section 726 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended, who request training and technical assistance. The
grantee under the SILC Training and Technical Assistance Center
priority, on the other hand, would serve 56 SILCs. We believe that two
competitions may encourage a greater number of applicants with varied
experience in the operation of CILs to apply and permit us to maximize
the innovative ideas, approaches and organizational strengths offered
by applicants.
Priorities
Proposed Priority 1--Centers for Independent Living (CILs) Training and
Technical Assistance Center
Background
Centers for independent living (CILs) are consumer-controlled,
community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential private nonprofit
agencies that are designed and operated within a local community by
individuals with disabilities and provide an array of independent
living services, including the core services of information and
referral, advocacy, peer support, and independent living skills
building. The training and technical assistance needs of CILs are
ongoing and evolve as new centers are funded, existing centers expand
and change, and personnel at existing centers change.
The training and technical assistance needs of CILs are identified
through CIL responses to a survey in their annual performance reports
and through the Department's monitoring and technical assistance
efforts. These training and technical assistance needs include needs in
areas that are critical for all CILs as well as needs in areas that are
center-specific.
Priority
This priority supports a CILs Training and Technical Assistance
Center (CILs T&TA Center) to improve the performance of CILs by
providing training and technical assistance to the CILs on the
programmatic and financial aspects of their operations, including
information on effective practices and proven solutions to common
problems. CILs are distributed across the Nation and vary in size,
stage of development, service area characteristics, and urgency of need
for training and technical assistance. Therefore, the training and
technical assistance provided by the CILs T&TA Center must be sensitive
to this diversity and must encompass a broad range of topics.
The CILs T&TA Center must make available to all CILs a broad array
of resources, training, and technical assistance. In addition, the CILs
T&TA Center must address the specific needs of CILs by providing those
CILs that require it with intensive, individualized, on-site training
and technical assistance that meets their needs. In this regard, the
CILs T&TA Center must be prepared to respond promptly to the
Department's identification of particular training and technical
assistance needs in general and those of particular CILs.
In coordination with the Department, the CILs T&TA Center must--
(a) Develop and provide training and technical assistance, based on
the CILs' annual performance report survey and other available data, on
topics related to the provision and expansion of independent living
(IL) services (primarily the IL core services), fiscal and management
practices, compliance with CIL standards and assurances, increased
program efficiency, rigorous evaluation, and improved outcomes as
measured by long-term goals and indicators;
(b) Develop and implement a plan to ensure that training and
technical assistance efforts will reach all federally funded CILs and
other eligible agencies;
(c) Refer CILs and eligible agencies to non-IL specific training
and technical assistance available through government or non-government
resources;
(d) Utilize a broad range of available, accessible technologies and
methodologies to provide training and technical assistance to CILs and
eligible agencies in the most effective and cost efficient manner;
(e) Provide focused, intensive and rapid training and technical
assistance to CILs identified by the Department as needing, or to CILs
requesting, such assistance;
(f) Identify and develop accessible training and technical
assistance materials and disseminate these materials to CILs and
eligible agencies; and
(g) Coordinate and collaborate with other training projects funded
by the Department to ensure that training activities are complementary
and non-duplicative and that dissemination activities are effective and
efficient. At a minimum, the CILs T&TA Center must coordinate with any
SILC Training and Technical Assistance Center funded under the
Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) Training and Technical
Assistance Center priority.
[[Page 9938]]
Proposed Priority 2--Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs)
Training and Technical Assistance Center
Background
States are required to establish a Statewide Independent Living
Council (SILC) in order to receive Federal funding to support and
coordinate independent living (IL) services in the State. A SILC's
duties include jointly developing and signing the State Plan for
Independent Living (SPIL) with the designated State unit; monitoring,
reviewing, and evaluating the implementation of the SPIL; and
coordinating activities with the State Rehabilitation Council and other
councils addressing the needs of specific disability populations and
issues under other Federal law. A majority of a SILC's members are
individuals with disabilities who are not employed by a CIL or a State
agency; other members include centers for independent living (CIL)
representatives, State agency representatives, and other appropriate
individuals.
SILC members are appointed on a rotating basis, serve in a
volunteer capacity, often maintain other employment, and have widely
varying experiences with disability programs. In addition, SILCs
typically experience a significant amount of membership turnover. The
training and technical assistance needs of SILCs are identified through
SILC responses to a survey in their annual performance reports and
through the Department's monitoring and technical assistance efforts.
These training and technical assistance needs include needs in areas
that are critical for all SILCs as well as needs in areas that are SILC
specific.
Priority
This priority supports a SILCs Training and Technical Assistance
Center (SILCs T&TA Center) to improve the performance of SILCs through
greater access to timely and relevant training and technical assistance
regarding SILC duties and operation.
In coordination with the Department, the SILCs T&TA Center must--
(a) Develop and provide training and technical assistance, based on
the SILCs' annual performance report survey and other available data,
on topics directly related to SILC legal responsibilities, including
SILC organization and operation and the development of the SPIL;
(b) Develop and implement a plan to provide to all SILCs the
training and technical assistance identified in paragraph (a) of this
priority;
(c) Refer SILCs to non-IL specific training and technical
assistance available through government or non-government resources;
(d) Utilize a broad range of available, accessible technologies and
methodologies to provide training and technical assistance to SILCs in
the most effective and cost efficient manner;
(e) Identify and develop accessible training and technical
assistance materials and disseminate these materials to the SILCs;
(f) Provide technical assistance to SILCs to enhance SILC
partnerships with State vocational rehabilitation agencies, CILs, and
other organizations, with a focus on sharing successful operational
experiences of other SILCs;
(g) Coordinate and collaborate with other training projects funded
by the Department to ensure that training activities are complementary
and non-duplicative and dissemination activities are effective and
efficient. At a minimum, the SILCs T&TA Center must coordinate with any
CILs Training and Technical Assistance Center funded under the Centers
for Independent Living (CILs) Training and Technical Assistance Center
priority.
Executive Order 12866
This notice of proposed priorities has been reviewed in accordance
with Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order, we have
assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
The potential costs associated with the notice of proposed
priorities are those resulting from statutory requirements and those we
have determined as necessary for administering this program effectively
and efficiently.
In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative
and qualitative--of this notice of proposed priorities, we have
determined that the benefits of the proposed priorities justify the
costs.
We have also determined that this regulatory action does not unduly
interfere with State, local, and tribal governments in the exercise of
their governmental functions.
Summary of Potential Costs and Benefits
Because the Department is proposing two priorities that may be used
in two competitions, rather than one, the potential for increased
application costs exists for an applicant that chooses to apply for
both grants under both priorities. However, both priorities share the
same overall objective--improved performance in the CIL program--and
applications under both priorities would likely include common
elements. This may minimize any increased costs associated with the two
priorities.
For an applicant that chooses to apply for only one grant, the two-
priority approach would have the potential of reducing the application
costs. The Department believes that the potential benefits to the CIL
program from a more focused, specialized approach to training and
technical assistance for CILs and SILCs would outweigh any possible
increase in associated application costs.
Intergovernmental Review
This program is 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 this program.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 366.
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 the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. 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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.132B, Independent
Living Program--Training and Technical Assistance Center)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 796f(b).
Dated: February 28, 2007.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E7-3886 Filed 3-5-07; 8:45 am]
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