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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

84.173:  Special Education: Preschool Grants

Objectives:  To provide grants to States to assist them in providing a free appropriate public education to children with disabilities ages three through five years, and at a State's discretion, to two year old children with disabilities who will reach age three during the school year.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

84.173 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  State education agencies in the 50 States, DC, Puerto Rico.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Three through five-year-old children, and (at the State's option) two-year-old children that will reach age 3 during the school year, having mental retardation, hearing impairments, including deafness, speech or language impairments, visual impairments, including blindness, serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments specific learning disabilities, or developmental delays that require special education and related services will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:  Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.

84.173 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  There is no separate application required for this program. States are eligible to receive Preschool Grant funds if the State education agency establishes eligibility under section 612 of the IDEA and if the State makes free appropriate public education available to all 3 through 5-year-old children with disabilities. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. States are eligible to receive funds under this program if the State establishes eligibility for funds under Section 612 of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and if the State makes free appropriate public education available to all 3 through 5-year-old children with disabilities residing in the State. Local education agencies establish eligibility for Preschool Grant funds by meeting local application eligibility requirements in section 613 of Part B of the IDEA. No separate application for section 619 funds is required.

Award Procedure:  Once the State has established eligibility to receive funds under part B of the IDEA, a grant award representing the total preschool grant amount for that fiscal year is forwarded to the State's department of education. A State must serve all 3 through 5-year old children with disabilities if the State wants to continue participating in this program, as well as to receive funds for 3 through 5-year old children served under the Grants to States program and discretionary funds under Part D of the IDEA pertaining to projects for 3 through 5-year old children with disabilities.

Deadlines:  Dates vary within each State. To expedite funding the submission date is set for April 1. Plans or amendments are accepted throughout the fiscal year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Not applicable.

Appeals:  Not applicable.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  The applicants eligible to participate in the program qualify for funding based upon a approved application under section 612 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and that they provide free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities aged three through five years. The criteria for approving an application appear in the regulations implementing part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Approved applications from the State education agencies which meet the requirements as set forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and implementing regulations at 34 CFR Part 300 are funded under this program, as well as provide free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities aged three through five years.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Fiscal year 1999 range is from $240,026 to $37,945,640.

84.173 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 84.027 Special Education: Grants to States;
• 84.181 Special Education: Grants for Infants and Families with Disabilities.

84.173 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

84.173 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Type of Assistance:  Formula Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $373,985,000; FY 00 est $390,000,000; and FY 01 est $390,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  91-0300-0-1-501.

Authorization:  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B, Section 619, as amended.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Final regulations were published in the Federal Register on June 1, 1998 at 34 CFR 301. Other regulations applicable to this program are found in the Federal Register at 34 CFR Part 300.

84.173 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  State educational agencies, Part B or Preschool Coordinator, or the Director of Special Education.

Headquarters Office:  Division of Monitoring and State Improvement Planning, Office of Special Education Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Nancy Treusch. Phone (202) 205-9097. Use the same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

84.173 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Preschool Grants are awarded to States based on a statutory formula. A State first receives the amount it received under this program in federal fiscal year 1997. If the appropriation for this program in any subsequent fiscal year exceeds the amount for the preceding fiscal year, 85 percent of the excess appropriation over the fiscal year 1997 appropriation is awarded to States based on their relative populations of children aged 3 through 5, and 15 percent of the excess appropriation is awarded based on the State's relative population of all children aged 3 trough 5 living in poverty.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Grants are issued each fiscal year. The obligation period is one fiscal year (a 15-month period from July 1 through September 30) plus a one year carryover provision.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Funds are used by State education agencies in accordance with the priorities in the Act to: (1) Provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to preschool children with disabilities ages 3 through 5, and at the State's discretion, to 2 year old children with disabilities who will reach age 3 during the next school year; (2) at the State's discretion, to set aside some grant funds to be used to administer section 619 and to use State set-aside funds for support services, direct services, for the State's State Improvement Plan, for activities to meet the State's performance goals, and to supplement other funds used for a Statewide coordinated service system designed to improve results for children and families.

84.173 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  None.

Audits:  None.

Records:  None.