OSERS-OSEP: Technical Assistance on State Data Collection: National Technical Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate Early Childhood IDEA Data CFDA Number 84.373Z

    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),or at www.govinfo.gov/​content/​pkg/​FR-2019-02-13/​pdf/​2019-02206.pdf.

     SUMMARY: The mission of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is to improve early childhood, educational, and employment outcomes and raise expectations for all people with disabilities, their families, their communities, and the Nation. As such, the Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2019 for a National Technical Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to Collect, Report,Analyze, and Use Accurate Early Childhood IDEA Data,Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.373Z.  This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1894-0006.

     Purpose of Program:  Section 616 of the IDEA requires States to submit to the Department, and make available to the public,a State performance plan (SPP) and an annual performance report (APR) with data on how each State implements both Parts B and C of the IDEA to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.   Section 618 of the IDEA requires States to submit to the Department, and make available to the public,quantitative data on infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities who are receiving early intervention and special education services under IDEA.  The purpose of the Technical Assistance on State Data Collection Program is to improve the capacity of States to meet IDEA data collection and reporting requirements under sections 616 and 618 of the IDEA.  Funding for the program is authorized under section 611(c)(1) of IDEA, which gives the Secretary the authority to reserve up to 1/2 of 1 percent of the amounts appropriated under Part B for each fiscal year to provide TA activities,where needed, to improve the capacity of States to meet the data collection and reporting requirements under Parts B and C of IDEA.  The maximum amount the Secretary may reserve under this set-aside for any fiscal year is $25,000,000,cumulatively adjusted by the rate of inflation.  Section 616(i) of IDEA requires the Secretary to review the data collection and analysis capacity of States to ensure that data and information determined necessary for the implementation of section 616 of IDEA are collected, analyzed, and accurately reported to the Secretary.  It also requires the Secretary to provide TA,where needed, to improve the capacity of States to meet the data collection requirements, which include the data collection and reporting requirements in sections 616 and 618 of IDEA.  Additionally, Division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 gives the Secretary the authority to use funds reserved under section 611(c) to “carry out other services and activities to improve data collection, coordination, quality, and use under Parts B and C of the IDEA.”  Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018; Div. H, Title III of Public Law 115-141; 132 Stat. 745 (2018).

     Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.373Z.