Under section 616(i)(2) of IDEA, awards may be made to provide technical assistance to improve the capacity of States to meet data collection requirements.

Priorities: We are establishing these priorities for the FY 2005 grant competition only, in accordance with Section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA).

Absolute Priorities: For FY 2005 these priorities are absolute priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3), we consider only applications that meet these priorities.

These priorities are:
Priority A: Outcome Measures.
Focus Area One: Developing or enhancing Part B State outcome indicators and methods to collect and analyze Part B outcome indicator data.
Focus Area Two: Developing or enhancing Part C State outcome indicators and methods to collect and analyze Part C outcome indicator data.
Priority B: Assessment Data: Planning grants for the Development, Enhancement, or Redesign of a Comprehensive System of State Assessments (including State alternate assessments), Standards, and Instructional Supports.

Section 616 of the IDEA requires the Department, and States, to establish and implement systems for monitoring implementation of and enforcing obligations under Parts B and C of the IDEA. Under section 616 of the IDEA, the Secretary must establish indicators in certain monitoring priority areas. States must develop State Performance Plans (SPPs), including targets for those indicators, and use those targets and indicators in annually reporting to the Secretary on the performance of the State. States must also use those targets and indicators to report annually to the public on the performance of each LEA in the State.