The Clearinghouses program provides financial assistance for—

(a) A national clearinghouse on the education of children and youth with disabilities that disseminates information and provides technical assistance to parents, professionals, and other interested parties;

(b) A national clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities; and

(c) A national clearinghouse designed to encourage students to seek careers and professional personnel to seek employment in the various fields relating to the education of children and youth with disabilities.

Parties eligible to apply for assistance under this part are public agencies or nonprofit private organizations or institutions.

The clearinghouses are required to—

(a) Collect, develop, and disseminate information;

(b) Provide technical assistance;

(c) Conduct coordinated outreach activities;

(d) Provide for the coordination and networking with other relevant national, State, and local organizations and information and referral resources;

(e) Respond to individuals and organizations seeking information; and

(f) Provide for the synthesis of information for its effective utilization by parents, professionals, individuals with disabilities, and other interested parties.

The following regulations apply to grants awarded under this program:

(a) The regulations in this part 320.

(b) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations in—

(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);

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

(5) Part 80 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments);

(6) Part 81 (General Education Provisions Act—Enforcement);

(7) Part 82 (New Restrictions on Lobbying);

(8) Part 85 (Governmentwide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)); and

(9) Part 86 (Drug-Free Schools and Campuses).

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

(b) Definitions in 34 CFR part 300. The term parent as used in this part is defined in 34 CFR 300.10.

The Secretary may provide funds under this part to—

(a) Establish and operate a national clearinghouse for children and youth with disabilities that will do the following:

(1) Collect and disseminate information (including the development of materials) on characteristics of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and on programs, legislation, and services relating to their education under this Act and other Federal laws.

(2) Participate in programs and services related to disability issues for providing outreach, technical assistance; collection, and dissemination of information; and promoting networking of individuals with appropriate national, State, and local agencies and organizations.

(3) Establish a coordinated network and conduct outreach activities with relevant Federal, State, and local organizations and other sources for promoting public awareness of disability issues and the availability of information, programs, and services.

(4) Collect, disseminate, and develop information on current and future national, Federal, regional, and State needs for providing information to parents, professionals, individuals with disabilities, and other interested parties relating to the education and related services of individuals with disabilities.

(5) Provide technical assistance to national, Federal, regional, State and local agencies and organizations seeking to establish information and referral services for individuals with disabilities and their families.

(6) Include strategies to disseminate information to underrepresented groups such as those with limited English proficiency, in carrying out the activities in this section.

(b) Establish and operate a national clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities that will do the following:

(1) Collect and disseminate information nationally on characteristics of individuals entering and participating in education and training programs after high school; legislation affecting such individuals and such programs; policies; procedures, and support services, as well as adaptations, and other resources available or recommended to facilitate the education of individuals with disabilities; available programs and services that include, or can be adapted to include, individuals with disabilities; and sources of financial aid for the education and training of individuals with disabilities.

(2) Identify areas of need for additional information.

(3) Develop new materials (in both print and nonprint form), especially by synthesizing information from a variety of fields affecting disability issues and the education, rehabilitation, and retraining of individuals with disabilities.

(4) Develop a coordinated network of professionals, related organizations and associations, mass media, other clearinghouses, and governmental agencies at the Federal, regional, State, and local level for the purposes of disseminating information and promoting awareness of issues relevant to the education of individual with disabilities after high school and referring individuals who request information to local resources.

(5) Respond to requests from individuals with disabilities, their parents, and professionals who work with them, for information that will enable them to make appropriate decisions about postsecondary education and training.

(c) Establish and operate a national clearinghouse designed to encourage students to seek careers and professional personnel to seek employment in the various fields related to the education of children and youth with disabilities that will do the following:

(1) Collect and disseminate information on current and future national, regional, and State needs for special education and related services personnel.

(2) Disseminate information to high school counselors and others concerning current career opportunities in special education, location of programs, and various forms of financial assistance (such as scholarships, stipends, and allowances).

(3) Identify training programs available around the country.

(4) Establish a network among local and State educational agencies and institutions of higher education concerning the supply of graduates and available openings.

(5) Provide technical assistance to institutions seeking to meet State and professionally recognized standards.

The Secretary uses the criteria in this section to evaluate applications for new grants. The maximum score for all the criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each complete criterion is indicated in parentheses.

(a) Plan of operation. (40 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the plan of operation for the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—

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

(ii) An effective plan of management that insures proper and efficient administration of the project;

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

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

(v) A clear description of how the applicant will provide equal access and treatment for eligible project participants who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented such as—

(A) Members of racial or ethnic minority groups;

(B) Women;

(C) Individuals with disabilities; and

(D) The elderly.

(b) Quality of key personnel. (15 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the qualifications of key personnel the applicant plans to use on the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—

(i) The qualifications of the project director (if one is to be used);

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

(iii) The time that each person referred to in paragraphs (b)(2) (i) and (ii) of this section will commit to the project; and

(iv) The extent to which the applicant, as part of its nondiscriminatory employment practices, encourages applications for employment from persons who are members of groups that have been traditionally underrepresented, such as—

(A) Members of racial or ethnic minority groups;

(B) Women;

(C) Individuals with disabilities; and

(D) The elderly.

(3) To determine personnel qualifications, the Secretary considers experience and training, in fields related to the objectives of the project, as well as other information that the applicant provides.

(c) Budget and cost effectiveness. (10 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the project has an adequate budget and is cost effective.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—

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

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

(d) Evaluation plan. (10 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the quality of the evaluation plan for the project. (See 34 CFR 75.590.) Evaluation by the grantee.)

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows methods of evaluation that are appropriate for the project, and to the extent possible, are objective and produce data that are quantifiable.

(e) Adequacy of resources. (5 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows that the applicant plans to devote adequate resources to the project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows—

(i) The facilities that the applicant plans to use are adequate; and

(ii) The equipment and supplies that the applicant plans to use are adequate.

(f) Experience and ability. (10 points) The Secretary looks for information that shows the applicant's—

(1) National experience relevant to performance of the functions supported by this program;

(2) Ability to conduct its proposed project;

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

(4) Ability to maintain the necessary communication with other agencies and organizations.

(g) Cooperation and coordination with other agencies. (10 points) (1) The Secretary reviews each application for information that shows the activities funded under this section will be coordinated with—

(i) Similar activities funded from grants and contracts awarded under this part and under part C of the Act; and

(ii) Other agencies and organizations conducting or eligible to conduct activities essential to the effective implementation of the proposed project.

(2) The Secretary looks for information that shows the nature and extent of, and timeline for, coordination which the applicant has had and proposes to have to facilitate implementation and continuation of the project activities after termination of Federal funding.

The Secretary may select as annual priorities any of the activities listed in § 320.10 by publishing a notice in the Federal Register.

In awarding grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under this part, the Secretary gives priority to any applicant with:

(a) Demonstrated, proven effectiveness at the national level in performing the functions established in this part; and with the ability to conduct such projects, communicate with intended consumers of information, and maintain the necessary communication with national, regional, State and local agencies and organizations.

(b) Demonstrated, proven effectiveness at the national level in provding informational services to minorities and minority organizations.

(a) Each grantee under this part shall ensure that any printed materials it produces or disseminates have been evaluated by individuals with disabilities, parents of children and youth with disabilities, and by appropriate professionals with respect to the quality, currency, and appropriateness of, and the need to develop or disseminate, the materials.

(b) Recipients of awards under § 320.10 (a), (b), and (c) shall coordinate the dissemination of materials and information activities supported under this part.

(a) Grantees shall, if appropriate, prepare reports describing their procedures, findings, and other relevant information in a form that will maximize the dissemination and use of such procedures, findings, and information. The Secretary shall require their delivery, as appropriate, to the Regional and Federal Resource Centers, the Clearinghouse, 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 Programs (CASSP) under the National Institute of Mental health, appropriate parent and professional organizations, organizations representing individuals with disabilities, and such other networks as the Secretary may determine to be appropriate.

(b) Beginning in fiscal year 1991, and for each year thereafter, each project assisted under this part provide information required by the Secretary, including—

(1) The number of individuals served by disability category, as appropriate, including parents, professionals, students, and individuals with disabilities;

(2) A description of responses utilized;

(3) A listing of new products developed and disseminated; and

(4) A description of strategies and activities utilized for outreach to urban and rural areas with populations of minorities and underrepresented groups.