Training and Information for Parents of Children With Disabilities Community Parent Resource Centers CFDA Number 84.328C | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?

This is a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant competition titled "Training and Information for Parents of Children With Disabilities Community Parent Resource Centers" (CFDA 84.328C).

2) What is the overall purpose of this funding?

The purpose is to help ensure that parents of children with disabilities have access to training and reliable information so they can advocate for their children and improve outcomes.

3) What larger program is this competition part of?

This competition sits under the broader Training and Information for Parents of Children with Disabilities Program.

4) What law and definitions does this opportunity reference?

The opportunity is tied to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including requirements and definitions referenced in IDEA.

5) Where are the official requirements, priorities, and instructions found?

The synopsis states that the authoritative requirements are in the official Federal Register notice. Applicants are expected to review the Federal Register notice for the complete rules, priorities, performance measures, and submission instructions.

6) What is the CFDA number for this competition?

The competition is listed as CFDA 84.328C.

7) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is ED-GRANTS-030111-001.

8) How much funding was anticipated for FY 2011?

For FY 2011, the Department anticipated an estimated total program funding level of $1,000,000.

9) How many awards were expected?

The Department anticipated making about 10 awards.

10) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The maximum award amount (award ceiling) was listed as $100,000.

11) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The synopsis states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to provide a match as a condition of receiving funds.

12) When was the opportunity posted and when were applications available?

The opportunity was posted on March 1, 2011, and applications were available the same day (March 1, 2011).

13) What was the deadline to submit an application?

The deadline for transmittal of applications was April 15, 2011.

14) Was this opportunity later archived?

Yes. The posting indicates it was archived on May 15, 2011.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to local parent organizations, as defined under IDEA section 672(a)(2).

16) What qualifies as a "local parent organization" for this competition?

To qualify as a local parent organization for this competition, the applicant must serve the community to be covered and have a board of directors where a majority are parents of children with disabilities from birth through age 26 drawn from that community. The organization must also have a mission focused on serving parents of children with disabilities in that community across the full range of disabilities recognized in IDEA (section 602(3)).

17) What does IDEA say about what a "parent organization" is?

IDEA section 671(a)(2) describes a parent organization as a private nonprofit organization (and not an institution of higher education) with a board in which the majority are parents of children with disabilities from birth through age 26. It also includes individuals working in special education, related services, and early intervention, as well as individuals with disabilities.

18) Are there expectations about who the organization represents?

Yes. The membership is expected to be broadly representative of the population served, explicitly including low-income parents and parents of children with limited English proficiency.

19) What ages of children are included in the program scope?

The scope covers children with disabilities from birth through age 26.

20) Does the mission need to cover certain disability categories?

Yes. The mission must cover families of children with disabilities across the full range of disabilities recognized in IDEA (referenced as IDEA section 602(3)).

21) How were applications intended to be submitted?

Applications were intended to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov as part of the governmentwide Grants.gov Apply process.

22) Can an application be submitted by email to the Department of Education?

No. The notice emphasizes that applications cannot be submitted by emailing an electronic copy to the Department.

23) How do applicants find and download the application package on Grants.gov?

Applicants were instructed to locate and download the package by searching for the CFDA number without the letter suffix. For example, search "84.328" rather than "84.328C" or "84.328M."

24) What is the basic Grants.gov application process described in the synopsis?

The synopsis describes downloading the application package from Grants.gov, completing the forms offline, and then uploading and submitting the completed application through Grants.gov.

25) Are there related competitions referenced, and how are they accessed?

Yes. The posting references related competitions (including CFDA 84.328M) as part of the same Grants.gov project and indicates they would be accessed in a similar way through Grants.gov.

26) Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov system help?

The Grants.gov systems contact listed is Julius Cotton at 202-245-6140 or julius.cotton@ed.gov.

27) Who is the program manager contact for this opportunity?

The program manager contact listed is Lisa Gorove at the U.S. Department of Education, 202-245-7357, located at 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 4060, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-2550.

28) What should applicants rely on if there is a difference between the synopsis and the official announcement?

The synopsis points to the Federal Register notice as the authoritative source for requirements, priorities, performance measures, and submission instructions.