TRAINING PERSONNEL FOR THE EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES-PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION CENTERS

Pt. 316 PART 316—TRAINING PERSONNEL FOR THE EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES—PARENT TRAINING AND INFORMATION CENTERS Subpart A—General Sec. 316.1 What is the Training Personnel for the Education of Individuals with Disabilities—Parent Training and Information Centers program? 316.2 Who is eligible for an award? 316.3 What kinds of projects may the Secretary fund? 316.4 What regulations apply to this program? 316.5 What definitions apply to this program? Subpart B—What Activities Does the Secretary Assist Under This Program? 316.10 What activities may the Secretary fund? Subpart C—How Does the Secretary Make an Award? 316.20 What are the requirements for applicants? 316.21 How does the Secretary evaluate an application? 316.22 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate applications for parent centers and experimental centers? 316.23 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate applications for technical assistance activities? 316.24 What additional factors does the Secretary consider? Subpart D—What Conditions Must a Grantee Meet? 316.30 What types of services are required? 316.31 What are the duties of the board of directors or special governing committee of a parent organization? 316.32 What are the reporting requirements under this program? 316.33 What other conditions must be met by grantees under this program? Authority:

20 U.S.C. 1431(d) and 1434, unless otherwise noted.

Source:

57 FR 62096, Dec. 29, 1992, unless otherwise noted.

Effective Date Note:

At 63 FR 23601, Apr. 29, 1998, part 316 was removed, effective Oct. 1, 1998.

Subpart A—General

§ 316.1 What is the Training Personnel for the Education of Individuals with Disabilities—Parent Training and Information Centers program?

(a) This program provides training and information to parents of children (infants, toddlers, children, and youth) with disabilities, and to persons who work with parents to enable parents to participate more fully and effectively with professionals in meeting the educational needs of their children with disabilities.

(b) Parent training and information programs may, at a grantee's discretion, include participation of State or local educational agency personnel if that participation will further an objective of the program assisted by the grant.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

§ 316.2 Who is eligible for an award?

Only parent organizations are eligible to receive awards under this program.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

§ 316.3 What kinds of projects may the Secretary fund?

The Secretary funds three kinds of projects under this program:

(a) Parent training and information centers.

(b) Experimental urban and rural parent training and information centers.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

§ 316.4 What regulations apply to this program?

The following regulations apply to this program:

(a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in the following parts of title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

(1) Part 74 (Administration of Grants to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Nonprofit Organizations).

(2) Part 75 (Direct Grant Programs).

(3) Part 77 (Definitions That Apply to Department Regulations).

(4) Part 79 (Intergovernmental Review of Department of Education Programs and Activities).

(5) Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act—Enforcement).

(6) Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying).

(7) Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for a Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)).

(b) The regulations in this part 316.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d); 3474(a))

§ 316.5 What definitions apply to this program?

(a) Definitions in EDGAR. The following terms used in this part are defined in 34 CFR 77.1:

Applicant

Application

Award

Department

EDGAR

Fiscal year

Local educational agency

Nonprofit

Private

Project

Secretary

State

State educational agency

(b) Definitions in 34 CFR part 300. The following terms used in this part are defined in 34 CFR part 300:

Individualized education program

Parent

Related services

Special education

Act means the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Parent organization means a private nonprofit organization that is governed by a board of directors of which a majority of the members are parents of children with disabilities—particularly minority parents—and that includes members who are professionals—especially minority professionals—in the fields of special education, early intervention, and related services, and individuals with disabilities. If the private nonprofit organization does not have such a board, the organization must have a membership that represents the interests of individuals with disabilities, and must establish a special governing committee of which a majority of the members are parents of children with disabilities—particularly parents of minority children—and that includes members who are professionals—especially minority professionals—in the fields of special education, early intervention, and related services. Parent and professional membership of these boards or special governing committees must be broadly representative of minority and other individuals and groups having an interest in special education, early intervention, and related services.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

Subpart B—What Activities Does the Secretary Assist Under This Program?

§ 316.10 What activities may the Secretary fund?

(a) Parent training and information centers assisted under § 316.3(a) must assist parents to—

(1) Better understand the nature and needs of the disabling conditions of their children with disabilities;

(2) Provide follow-up support for the educational programs of their children with disabilities;

(3) Communicate more effectively with special and regular educators, administrators, related services personnel, and other relevant professionals;

(4) Participate fully in educational decisionmaking processes, including the development of the individualized education program, for a child with a disability;

(5) Obtain information about the range of options, programs, services, and resources available at the national, State, and local levels to children with disabilities and their families; and

(6) Understand the provisions for educating children with disabilities under the Act.

(b) Experimental urban centers under § 316.3(b) must serve large numbers of parents of children with disabilities located in high density areas, and experimental rural centers under § 316.3(b) must serve large numbers of parents of children with disabilities located in rural areas. The centers may focus on particular aspects of parent training and information services, including but not limited to those activities required under § 316.10(a). Experimental projects may include a planning and development phase.

(1) Experimental urban centers may concentrate on neighborhoods within a city or focus on specific unserved groups. They may serve an entire city or concentrate on a specific area or ethnic group within a city.

(2) Experimental rural centers may serve a large, sparsely populated area. Projects may identify specific methods, including use of technology and telecommunications, to reach these parents.

(c) The technical assistance to parent programs under § 316.3(c) includes technical assistance for establishing, developing, and coordinating parent training and information programs. Activities must include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Determining national needs and identifying unserved regions and populations.

(2) Identifying the specific technical assistance needs of individual centers.

(3) Developing programs in unserved areas.

(4) Conducting annual meetings at national and regional levels.

(5) Identifying and coordinating national activities to serve parents of children with disabilities. This may include conferences, publications, and maintenance of documents and data relevant to parent programs.

(6) Dissemination of information through media, newsletters, computers, and written documentation.

(7) Cooperative activities with other projects and organizations on common goals.

(8) Evaluation, including determination of the impact of technical assistance activities, and evaluation assistance to centers.

(9) Management assistance to centers.

(10) Involvement of parent programs and the Department in identifying one or more substantive specialization areas.

(11) Acting as a resource to parent training programs in identified specialization areas such as transition, supported employment, early childhood, integration, and technology.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

Subpart C—How Does the Secretary Make an Award?

§ 316.20 What are the requirements for applicants?

(a) Applicants for awards for parent centers and experimental centers under § 316.3 (a) and (b) shall demonstrate the capacity and expertise to conduct the authorized training and information activities effectively, and to network with clearinghouses, including those authorized under section 633 of the Act, other organizations and agencies, and other established national, State, and local parent groups representing the full range of parents of children with disabilities—especially parents of minority children.

(b) In order to assure that awards for parent centers under § 316.3(a) serve parents of minority children with disabilities (including parents served pursuant to § 316.33) representative to the proportion of the minority population in the areas being served, applicants for awards shall identify with specificity the special efforts that will be undertaken to involve those parents, including efforts to work with community-based and cultural organizations and the specification of supplementary aids, services, and supports that will be made available. Applicants shall also specify budgetary items earmarked to accomplish these efforts.

(c) Applicants for awards for experimental urban centers shall provide a rationale for their project and demonstrate a capability to serve the parents they have identified and targeted for services.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1820-0028) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

§ 316.21 How does the Secretary evaluate an application?

(a) The Secretary evaluates an application on the basis of the criteria in §§ 316.22 and 316.23.

(b) The Secretary awards up to 100 points for these criteria.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1820-0028) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

§ 316.22 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate applications for parent centers and experimental centers?

The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate applications for parent centers and experimental centers:

(a) Extent of present and projected need. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project makes an impact on parent training and information needs, consistent with the purposes of the Act, including consideration of the impact on—

(1) The present and projected needs in the applicant's geographic area for trained parents;

(2) The present and projected training and information needs for personnel to work with parents of children with disabilities; and

(3) Parents of minority infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

(b) Anticipated project results. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which the project will assist parents to—

(1) Better understand the nature and needs of the disabling conditions of their children with disabilities;

(2) Provide follow-up support for the educational programs of their children with disabilities;

(3) Communicate more effectively with special and regular educators, administrators, related services personnel, and other relevant professionals;

(4) Participate fully in educational decision-making processes, including the development of the individualized educational program, for a child with a disability;

(5) Obtain information about the range of options, programs, services, and resources available at the national, State, and local levels to children with disabilities and their families; and

(6) Understand the provisions for educating children with disabilities under the Act.

(c) Plan of operation. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project, including—

(1) High quality in the design of the project;

(2) An effective management plan that ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;

(3) How the objectives of the project relate to the purpose of the program;

(4) The way the applicant plans to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective; and

(5) How the applicant addresses the needs of parents of minority infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

(d) Evaluation plan. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of evaluation—

(1) Are appropriate for the project;

(2) To the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable (See 34 CFR 75.590, Evaluation by the grantee.); and

(3) Provide the data required for the annual report to Congress. (See 20 U.S.C. 1434 (a)(3) and (b))

(e) Quality of key personnel. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the key personnel the applicant plans to use in the project, including—

(1) The qualifications of the project director;

(2) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used on the project;

(3) The time each of the key personnel plans to commit to the project;

(4) How the applicant, as a part of its nondiscriminatory practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability; and

(5) Evidence of the applicant's past experience in the fields relating to the objectives of the project.

(f) Budget and cost-effectiveness. (10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which—

(1) The budget for the project is adequate to support the project activities; and

(2) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1820-0028) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

§ 316.23 What selection criteria does the Secretary use to evaluate applications for technical assistance activities?

The Secretary uses the following criteria to evaluate applications for technical assistance activities:

(a) Plan of operation. (25 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the plan of operation for the project, including—

(1) High quality in the design of the project;

(2) An effective plan of management that ensures proper and efficient administration of the project;

(3) A clear description of how the objectives of the project relate to the purpose of the program; and

(4) The way the applicant plans to use its resources and personnel to achieve each objective.

(b) Project content. (20 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine—

(1) The project's potential for national significance, its potential for effectiveness, and the quality of its plan for dissemination of the results of the project;

(2) The extent to which substantive content and organization of the project—

(i) Are appropriate for the attainment of knowledge that is necessary for the provision of quality educational and early intervention services to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities; and

(ii) Demonstrate an awareness of relevant methods, procedures, techniques, technology, and instructional media or materials that can be used in the development of a model to assist parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities; and

(3) The extent to which project philosophy, objectives, and activities are related to the educational or early intervention needs of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

(1) Experience and training in fields related to the objectives of the project;

(2) National experience relevant to performance of the functions supported by the project;

(3) Ability to conduct the proposed project;

(4) Ability to communicate with intended consumers of information; and

(5) Ability to maintain necessary communication and coordination with other relevant projects, agencies, and organizations.

(d) Quality of key personnel. (10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the key personnel the applicant plans to use in the project, including—

(1) The qualifications of the project director;

(2) The qualifications of each of the other key personnel to be used in the project;

(3) The time that each of the key personnel plans to commit to the project;

(4) How the applicant, as a part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, will ensure that its personnel are selected for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability; and

(5) Evidence of the key personnel's past experience and training in fields related to the objectives of the project.

(e) Evaluation plan. (15 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the quality of the evaluation plan for the project, including the extent to which the applicant's methods of evaluation—

(1) Are appropriate for the project; and

(2) To the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable. (See 34 CFR 75.590, Evaluation by the grantee.)

(f) Adequacy of resources. (5 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the adequacy of the resources that the applicant plans to devote to the project, including facilities, equipment, and supplies.

(g) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 points) The Secretary reviews each application to determine the extent to which—

(1) The budget is adequate to support the project; and

(2) Costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives of the project.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1820-0028) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

§ 316.24 What additional factors does the Secretary consider?

In addition to the criteria in § 316.22, the Secretary considers the following factors in making an award:

(a) Geographic distribution. In selecting projects for awards for parent centers under § 316.3(a), the Secretary ensures that, to the greatest extent possible, awards are distributed geographically, on a State or regional basis, throughout all the States and serve parents of children with disabilities in both urban and rural areas.

(b) Unserved areas. In selecting projects for parent centers under § 316.3(a) and experimental centers under § 316.3(b), the Secretary gives priority to applications that propose to serve unserved areas.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

Subpart D—What Conditions Must a Grantee Meet?

§ 316.30 What types of services are required?

(a) Parent centers and experimental centers must be designed to meet the unique training and information needs of parents of children with disabilities who live in the areas to be served by the project, particularly those who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented.

(b) Parent centers and experimental centers must consult and network with appropriate national, State, regional, and local agencies and organizations that serve or assist children with disabilities and their families in the geographic areas served by the project.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

§ 316.31 What are the duties of the board of directors or special governing committee of a parent organization?

A recipient's board of directors or special governing committee as described in § 316.5 must meet at least once in each calendar quarter to review the parent training and information activities under the award. Whenever a private nonprofit organization requests a renewal of an award under this part, the board of directors or special governing committee shall submit to the Secretary a written review of the parent training and information program conducted by that private nonprofit organization during the preceding fiscal year.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1820-0028) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))

§ 316.32 What are the reporting requirements under this program?

(a) Recipients shall, if appropriate, prepare reports describing their procedures, findings, and other relevant information in a form that will maximize the dissemination and use of these procedures, findings, and information. The Secretary requires their delivery, as appropriate, to the Regional and Federal Reserve Centers, the Clearinghouses, and the Technical Assistance to Parents Program (TAPP) assisted under parts C and D of the Act, as well as the National Diffusion Network, the ERIC Clearinghouse on the Handicapped and Gifted, and the Child and Adolescent Service Systems Program (CASSP) under the National Institute of Mental Health, appropriate parent and professional organizations, organizations representing individuals with disabilities, and other networks the Secretary may determine to be appropriate.

(b) The recipient shall provide data for every year of the project on—

(1) The number of parents provided information and training by disability category of their children;

(2) The types and modes of information or training provided;

(3) Strategies used to reach and serve parents of minority children with disabilities;

(4) The number of parents served as a result of activities described under paragraph (b)(3) of this section;

(5) Activities to network with other information clearinghouses and parent groups as required by § 316.20(a);

(6) The number of agencies and organizations consulted with at the national, State, regional, and local levels; and

(7) The number of parents served who are parents of children with disabilities birth through age five.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1820-0530) (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1409(g); 1434(a)(3))

§ 316.33 What other conditions must be met by grantees under this program?

(a) In the case of a grant for parent centers under § 316.3(a) and experimental centers under § 316.3(b) to a private nonprofit organization for fiscal year 1993 or 1994, the organization, in expending the amounts described in paragraph (b) of this section, shall give priority to providing services to parents of children with disabilities birth through age five.

(b) With respect to a grant for a parent center or an experimental center to a private nonprofit organization for fiscal year 1993 or 1994, the amounts referred to in paragraph (a) of this section are any amounts provided in the grant in excess of the amount of any grant under this program provided to the organization for fiscal year 1992.

(c) Recipients of awards for parent centers and experimental centers shall serve parents of children representing the full range of disabling conditions.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1431(d))