DINF Web Posted on December 15, 1997

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THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1995

Section 301, one-year extension. Section 301 of the bill would extend the authorizations of appropriations for current Parts C through G of the Act through fiscal year 1996. This one-year extension, which the bill also provides for sections 610 and 618, will allow for an orderly transition to the complete revision of those provisions to be made by the bill. In addition, section 301(a)(1) extends, through fiscal year 1996, the applicability of section 625(a)(6), which currently requires the Secretary to continue to fund the four regional centers for the deaf through fiscal year 1995, in order to avoid disrupting the services those centers provide.

Section 302, reauthorization of discretionary programs. Section 302 of the bill would revise Parts C through G of the Act, in their entirety, effective beginning with fiscal year 1997, as follows:

Part C would authorize a new program to assist States develop and implement State Improvement Plans in order to help children with disabilities meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, and be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible.

Section 621, findings. Section 621 would state the following congressional findings in support of the creation of this new program: (1) many of the critical barriers to improving educational results for children with disabilities are caused by statewide and systemic problems; (2) previous efforts to improve the education of children with disabilities have achieved some good results, but federally funded efforts have focused either on specific disabilities or programs and have not focused on improvement of results for children with all disabilities at all age levels; (3) State and local agencies are generally in the best position to develop their own comprehensive strategies for improving results for children with disabilities in the context of their overall State education improvement efforts; (4) educational systems that effectively serve children with disabilities share certain characteristics identified in the bill; (5) the principles of professional development disseminated by the Secretary in 1995 provide useful guidance for States and LEAs in their efforts to provide high-quality professional development for individuals who work with children with disabilities; and (6) peer review of State efforts to address the needs of children with disabilities can provide both an incentive for systems change and a valuable resource for information that States may draw on in seeking solutions to problems in serving children.

Section 622, purpose. Section 622 would state that the purpose of Part C of the Act is to assist States in reforming and improving systems for providing educational and early intervention services, including their systems for professional development, to help children with disabilities: (1) meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children; and (2) be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible.

Section 623, eligible recipients. Section 623 would provide that each SEA may apply for a grant under Part C.

Section 624, State Improvement Plans. Section 624 would describe the process for a State to follow in developing its State Improvement Plan and the material that would have to be included in that plan.

Subsection (a)(1) would require that any State desiring to receive a grant under Part C submit to the Secretary a State Improvement Plan that is developed in consultation with a wide range of individuals, groups, organizations, and agencies listed in the bill.

Subsection (a)(2) would require the plan to be integrated, to the maximum extent possible, with State plans under Title III of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other Acts, as appropriate.

Subsection (b) would require that each State Improvement Plan identify the needs of children with disabilities in the State and of the programs that serve them. Specifically, subsection (b)(1) would require the plan to identify those critical aspects of early intervention, general education, and special education programs (including professional development, based on an assessment of State and local needs) that must be improved to meet the goals established by the State under section 612(a)(16); and address the major findings of the Secretary's most recent State compliance reviews as they relate to improving results for children with disabilities.

Subsection (b)(2) would require the plan to include at least an analysis of all information, reasonably available to the State, on the performance of children with disabilities in the State, including information specified in the bill; an analysis of State and local needs for professional development for personnel to serve children with disabilities, and relevant information on current and anticipated personnel shortages, and on the extent of certification or retraining necessary for those providing services to children with disabilities; and an analysis of all other information, reasonably available to the State, on the effectiveness of its systems of early intervention, special education, and general education in meeting the needs of children with disabilities.

Subsection (c) would require the plan to describe the strategies the State will use to address the needs identified under subsection (b), including strategies on certain identified topics; the strategies and activities to be supported under Part C and how they will be coordinated with other activities, programs, and resources; and how the State will address improving results for students with disabilities in the areas of greatest need.

Subsection (d) would require each SEA that receives a grant under Part C to submit a performance report to the Secretary every two years that describes the progress of the State and of children with disabilities in relation to the performance goals and performance indicators established by the State under section 612(a)(16); analyzes the effectiveness of the State's strategies in meeting those goals; and identifies the strategies that need revision in order to improve its performance.

Subsection (e)(1) would direct the Secretary to approve a State Improvement Plan if it meets the requirements of section 624 and it holds reasonable promise of enabling the State to meet its goals established under section 612(a)(16).

Subsection (e)(2) would require the Secretary, in reviewing State Improvement Plans, to obtain the advice of non-Federal experts (including individuals with disabilities and individuals knowledgeable about the needs of children from minority backgrounds) on personnel development and systems change in education, including early intervention. The peer review process for subsequent submissions of State Improvement Plans would include consideration of the effectiveness of the State's improvement efforts, as described in the State's Improvement Plan. Finally, the Secretary would be authorized to use funds available under Part C to pay the expenses and fees of non-Federal peer reviewers.

Subsection (f)(1) would allow each State to determine the duration of its plan, subject to a four-year maximum. Paragraph (2) would authorize the Secretary to require amendments to a State's plan at any time as a result of the Secretary's compliance reviews under Parts B and H, and would prohibit the Secretary from providing further funding to the State under Part C until those amendments are submitted and approved.

Subsection (f)(3) would provide that if the State makes significant changes in its plan, it shall submit that information to the Secretary for approval.

Section 625, distribution of funds. Section 625(a) would require the Secretary to allocate Part C funds to eligible States on the basis of their relative total populations of: (1) all children aged birth through two, if the State receives a grant under Part H; and (2) all children aged three through 21 who are of the same age as children with disabilities for whom the State ensures the availability of a free appropriate public education under Part B.

Subsection (b) would guarantee each State with an approved plan a grant of at least $400,000 and each outlying area a grant of at least $40,000. (These amounts would be proportionately reduced if there were insufficient funds available.)

Because the education of children with disabilities in the outlying areas continues to be plagued by inadequate services and numerous other problems, subsection (c) would prohibit those areas from using Part C funds for other purposes, as they are otherwise permitted to do by Public Law 95-134. (The bill includes similar provisions applicable to Part B funds under sections 611 and 619, and funds for infants and toddlers under Part H.) As a result, the outlying areas will be subject to the same requirements in using Part C funds as are the States that receive those funds.

Section 626, mandatory use of funds for professional development. Section 626(a) would require each State to use at least 50 percent of the funds it receives under Part C for any fiscal year to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of personnel who have the skills and knowledge necessary to enable children with disabilities to meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, including working with other States on common certification criteria.

Subsection (b)(1) would require each State to use at least 15 percent of the funds it uses for personnel development under Part C to address personnel development needs in the area of early intervention. Paragraph (2) would direct that funds set aside for that purpose be made available to the lead agency under Part H or, at the lead agency's discretion, be retained by the SEA.

Section 627, authorized activities. Section 627 would state that the authorized activities under Part C are any activities, described in the State Improvement Plan, that are consistent with the purpose of Part C, which may include the award of subgrants to LEAs and other appropriate entities.

Section 628, authorization of appropriations. Section 628 would authorize the appropriation, for fiscal years 1997 through 2001, of such sums as may be necessary to carry out Part C.

Part D of the IDEA would replace the professional development authorities currently in Part D, as follows:

Section 631, findings. Section 631 would set out, as congressional findings to support the Part D program, that:

(1) in order to serve children with disabilities appropriately, both general and special education personnel must be prepared to meet the special needs of those children, and they must be prepared in how to work together effectively to meet those needs;

(2) in order to assist children with disabilities to meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, personnel working with children with disabilities must have the knowledge and skills necessary to address each child's individual needs;

(3) the Federal Government can play a critical role in assisting States in meeting the need for highly-qualified personnel by supporting models of professional development that reflect best practices; by supporting the development of, and dissemination of information about, teaching standards; and by promoting the coordination and integration of professional development for teachers of children with disabilities with professional development supported under the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;

(4) national activities that promote greater consistency in certification standards among States and reciprocity in accepting teaching credentials can help reduce personnel shortages and improve services;

(5) institutions of higher education and individual States are reluctant to support professional development programs for personnel needed to serve children with low-incidence disabilities because of the small number of these personnel needed in each State; therefore, Federal support is needed to ensure an adequate supply of those personnel; and

(6) Federal support is needed to ensure an adequate supply of leadership personnel in education, related services, and early intervention, including teacher-preparation faculty, administrators, researchers, supervisors, and principals who have the professional development they need to help children with disabilities meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, and be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible.

Section 632, purposes. Section 632 would state that the purposes of Part D are to help ensure that: (1) personnel responsible for serving children with disabilities, including general and special education personnel, related services personnel, and early intervention personnel, have the knowledge and skills necessary to help those children meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, and be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible; (2) there are adequate numbers of those personnel to meet the needs of children with disabilities; and (3) the skills and knowledge of personnel responsible for serving children with disabilities reflect the best practices as determined through research and experience, particularly with respect to the inclusion of children with disabilities in the regular education environment.

Section 633, national activities. Section 633(a) would authorize the Secretary to make awards to eligible entities (listed in section 610) to support activities of national significance that have broad applicability and that will help ensure that the purposes of Part D are met.

Section 633(b) would authorize the Secretary, in carrying out section 633, to support any activities that are consistent with subsection (a), including any of 15 specific activities listed in the bill.

Section 634, professional development for personnel serving low-incidence populations. Section 634(a) would authorize the Secretary to make awards to eligible entities (listed in section 610) to meet the purposes of Part D by supporting preparation for personnel who will provide educational and related services to children with low-incidence disabilities, and to personnel who will provide early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities. (The term "low-incidence disability" would be defined by subsection (e), described below.)

Section 634(b)(1) would provide that among those who can be prepared under section 634 are personnel who are currently prepared in the fields of educational, related, or early intervention services and who are studying to obtain degrees, certification, licensure, or endorsements in these fields, or are studying to meet competency requirements in these fields.

Subsection (b)(2) would permit the Secretary to include funds for scholarships, with necessary stipends and allowances, in awards under section 634.

Subsection (c)(2) would require each applicant under section 634, in its application for funds, to propose to provide preparation that addresses a significant need, as shown by letters from one or more States stating that they intend to accept successful completion of the proposed personnel preparation as meeting State personnel standards for serving children with low-incidence disabilities or infants and toddlers with disabilities, and that they need personnel in the area or areas in which the applicant proposes to provide preparation, as identified in their comprehensive systems of personnel development under Parts B and H, or in their State Improvement Plan under Part C.

Subsection (d)(1) would direct the Secretary, in making awards under section 634, to apply such criteria as the Secretary finds appropriate, including certain criteria specified in the bill.

Subsection (d)(2) would allow the Secretary to give preference to applications that propose to prepare personnel in more than one low-incidence disability, such as deafness and blindness. Paragraph (3) would allow the Secretary to consider past performance of the applicant in carrying out previous projects under the Act. Paragraph (4) would permit the Secretary to ensure broad geographic coverage of activities assisted under section 634.

Subsection (e) would define "low-incidence disability" as: (1) a visual or hearing impairment, or simultaneous visual and hearing impairments; (2) a significant cognitive impairment; or (3) any impairment for which a small number of personnel with highly specialized skills and knowledge are needed in order for children with that impairment to receive early intervention services or a free appropriate public education.

Section 635, leadership personnel. Section 635(a) would authorize the Secretary to make awards to eligible entities (listed in section 610) to meet the purposes of Part D by preparing educational, related service, and early intervention leadership personnel so that they are prepared to help children with disabilities meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, and to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible.

Subsection (b)(1) would authorize the Secretary to support any activities that are consistent with subsection (a). Among other things, these activities could include the preparation of personnel at the advanced graduate, doctoral, or post-doctoral levels, and professional development of leadership personnel.

Subsection (b)(2) would allow the Secretary to include funds for scholarships, with necessary stipends and allowances, in awards under section 635.

Subsection (c)(1) would require the Secretary to give preference to projects at institutions of higher education that have successfully integrated the professional development of general and special education personnel.

Subsection (c)(2) would permit the Secretary to give preference to projects at institutions of higher education that either are making progress toward integrating the professional development of general and special education personnel or have achieved coordination of their professional development programs for general and special education personnel.

Subsection (c)(3) would direct the Secretary to give preference to applicants that are successfully recruiting and preparing individuals with disabilities and individuals from groups that are underrepresented in education leadership positions.

Section 636, service obligation. Section 636 would require that each application for funds under either section 634 or section 635 include an assurance that the applicant will ensure that individuals who are prepared under the proposed project will subsequently perform work related to their preparation or repay all or part of the cost of that preparation.

Section 637, authorization of appropriations. Section 637 would authorize the appropriation, for fiscal years 1997 through 2001, of such sums as may be necessary to carry out Part D.

Part E of the IDEA would replace the research authorities currently in Part E, as well as some of the activities currently authorized under section 618 of the Act, as follows:

Section 641, findings. Section 641 would set out, as congressional findings to support the revised Part E program, that:

(1) as a result of more than 20 years of Federal support for research, demonstrations, and related activities, there is an important knowledge base for enhancing educational opportunities for children with disabilities; and research in such areas as instructional and behavioral management interventions, learning strategies, and teaching has led to significant improvements in professional practice and educational results for children with disabilities;

(2) Federal support for a coordinated and high-quality program of research, demonstrations, dissemination, and technical assistance is essential to enabling State and local educational agencies to improve educational results for children with disabilities;

(3) States, LEAs, institutions of higher education, schools, and Indian tribes, as well as parents of children with disabilities, need information that is based on current research, that is easily accessible, and that is integrated with information that helps administrators and teachers to serve all children; helps families to improve educational results for their children; and helps providers of various services effectively coordinate those services;

(4) there is an important Federal role in ensuring that technical assistance is available to State and local educational agencies, both through directly providing technical assistance and through helping State and local educational agencies identify and benefit from effective non-Federal sources of technical assistance;

(5) modern technology related to storing, gaining access to, and distributing information provides unprecedented opportunities for putting information into the hands of individuals, including individuals working with children with disabilities, families of children with disabilities, and individuals with disabilities; and

(6) a national assessment of general and special education, related services, and early intervention services for children with disabilities is needed in order to determine the impact and effectiveness of Federal, State, and local efforts supported under the IDEA, and to improve results for children with disabilities.

Section 642, purposes. Section 642 would provide that the purposes of Part E are to: (1) identify and produce knowledge to improve early intervention and educational opportunities for children with disabilities so that they can meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, and be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible; (2) advance the use of knowledge by administrators, teachers, parents, and others who work with children with disabilities, as well as by individuals with disabilities; (3) identify, produce, and promote the use of knowledge to address the special needs of children with a high likelihood of needing special education and related services in order to reduce, through early intervention, the need for special education services later in life; and (4) assist institutions of higher education to appropriately serve individuals with disabilities, including individuals who are deaf, in postsecondary programs.

Section 643, research and improvement activities. Section 643 would authorize the Secretary to make awards to support activities that will help meet the purposes of Part E. Twelve specific examples of the types of projects that could be supported are listed in the bill.

Section 644, studies and evaluations; annual report. Section 644(a) would authorize the Secretary, either directly or through awards to eligible entities (listed in section 610), to: (1) assess progress in the implementation of the Act; (2) assess, through performance indicators and other means, the impact and effectiveness of State and local efforts, and efforts by the Secretary of the Interior, to provide a free appropriate public education to children with disabilities and to provide early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and those at risk for developmental delay; (3) assess the placement of children with disabilities, by disability; (4) provide Congress with information relevant to policy-making and to provide State, local, and Federal agencies, including the Department of the Interior, with information relevant to program management, administration, service delivery, and effectiveness with respect to education and early intervention services; and (5) conduct the national assessment described in section 645, discussed below.

Section 644(b), which replaces current section 618(g), would direct the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on the results of the studies and evaluations conducted under subsection (a); an analysis and summary of the data reported by the States and the Secretary of the Interior under section 618; and the findings and determinations resulting from reviews of State implementation of the Act.

Section 645, national assessment. Section 645(a) would direct the Secretary to carry out a national assessment of the implementation of the IDEA in order to: (1) determine the impact of the Act on helping individuals with disabilities meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, and be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible; (2) provide information to Congress, the Executive Branch, the States, LEAs, and others on how to more effectively implement the Act; and (3) provide Congress and the Executive Branch information useful in developing legislation to more effectively meet the purposes of the Act.

Subsection (b) would require the Secretary to plan, review, and conduct the national assessment in consultation with researchers, State practitioners, local practitioners, parents of children with disabilities, individuals with disabilities, and other appropriate individuals.

Subsection (c) would require that the national assessment examine how well schools, LEAs, and States are achieving ten specified objectives in carrying out Parts B, C, and H of the Act. Among other things, the Secretary would work with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, and other Federal officials to determine how well schools, LEAs, and States are coordinating services provided under the IDEA with each other, with other educational and pupil services, and with health and social services funded from other sources. The Secretary would also examine how effective the activities authorized under Parts D through G of the Act have been in achieving their purposes.

Subsection (d) would direct the Secretary to use information gathered from a variety of sources, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress, State evaluations, and available research studies, in carrying out the national assessment.

Subsection (e) would require the Secretary to provide the President and the appropriate committees of the Congress an interim report that summarizes the preliminary findings of the national assessment by October 1, 1998 and a final report of the findings of the assessment by October 1, 2000.

Section 646, authorization of appropriations; reservation for studies and evaluations. Section 646(a) would authorize the appropriation, for fiscal years 1997 through 2001, of such sums as may be necessary to carry out Part E.

Section 646(b) would permit the Secretary to reserve, in addition to amounts appropriated under subsection (a), one-half of one percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal year for section 611 of Part B and for Part H to carry out the activities described in section 644 and the national assessment described in section 645.

Part F would replace the authorities for parent training and information activities that are currently authorized by various other portions of the Act, most notably section 631(e).

Section 651, findings. Section 651 would set out, as congressional findings to support the new Part F program, that:

(1) parental involvement in the education of their children improves the emotional well-being of families, enhances parenting skills, and improves educational results for children with disabilities, enabling them to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible;

(2) parents of children with disabilities need training to develop the skills they need to participate effectively in the education of their children, and to understand the nature of their children's disabilities and their need for accommodations and special education and related services in order to achieve their educational goals;

(3) parents of children with disabilities need information on their rights and protections under the IDEA to ensure improved educational results;

(4) parents of children with disabilities who have limited access to services and supports due to economic, cultural, or linguistic barriers have the greatest need for community-based approaches to providing parent training and information;

(5) parental involvement in school-site reform initiatives, such as under the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, leads to improved educational results for their children; and

(6) students with disabilities need training so that they can assume the rights of their parents under Part B of the Act, when they reach the age of majority, if the State provides for the transfer of those rights under section 615(j) of that part.

Section 652, purposes. Section 652 would provide that the purposes of Part F are to ensure that: (1) parents of children with disabilities have training and information provided in a manner that is meaningful and accessible to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children meetdevelopmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, and be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible; and (2) students with disabilities understand their rights and responsibilities under Part B of the IDEA on reaching the age of majority, if the State provides for the transfer of parental rights to students under section 615(j).

Section 653, parent training and information centers. Section 653(a) would authorize the Secretary to make awards to parent organizations (a term defined in section 656(a)) to support parent training and information centers to carry out the purposes of Part F.

Section 653(b) would require each of those centers to carry out the following activities:

(1) provide training and information that meets the training and information needs of parents of children with disabilities living in the area to be served by the award;

(2) serve the parents of children with the full range of disabilities;

(3) assist parents to better understand the nature of their children's disabilities and their educational and developmental needs; communicate effectively with early intervention personnel, special and regular educators, administrators, related services personnel, and other relevant professionals; participate in decision-making processes, including the development of IEPs under Part B of the Act and IFSPs under Part H of the Act for children with disabilities; obtain appropriate information about the range of options, programs, services, and resources available at the national, State, and local levels to assist children with disabilities and their families; understand the provisions for the education of, and for early intervention services for, children with disabilities under the Act; and participate in school reform activities;

(4) assist students with disabilities to understand their rights and responsibilities under section 615(j) of the Act on reaching the age of majority, if the State provides for the transfer of parental rights under that section;

(5) report to the Secretary on the number of parents to whom it provided information and training and on the effectiveness of strategies used to reach and serve parents, including low-income parents from inner-city and rural areas, parents of children with limited English proficiency, and parents with disabilities; and

(6) establish cooperative partnerships with the community parent resource centers funded under section 654.

Subsection (c) would require each application for assistance under section 653 to identify with specificity the special efforts that the applicant will undertake to ensure that the needs of low-income parents in inner-city and rural areas, parents of children with limited English proficiency, and parents with disabilities in the area to be served are effectively met, and to work with community-based organizations.

Subsection (d)(1) would direct the Secretary to allocate the funds available to carry out section 653 for awards in each State based on the State's population of individuals from birth through age 21. However, each State would be allocated at least $150,000 ($50,000 for each outlying area) or the amount that it was allocated under section 653 for the previous fiscal year, whichever is greater. These amounts would be proportionately reduced if insufficient funds were available.

Subsection (d)(2) would require the Secretary to make at least one award in each State from which the Secretary receives an application of sufficient quality to warrant approval.

Subsection (d)(3) would permit the Secretary to select applications in a manner that ensures the most effective coverage of parents, including parents in urban and rural areas, in the affected State.

Subsection (d)(4) would provide that, if the Secretary determines that the applications received from a State do not warrant the award of the State's entire allocation under paragraph (1), the Secretary could use all or part of that allocation to increase the number or amount of awards in other States under section 653, to support other activities that provide parents with training and information, or to provide technical assistance to those providing that training and information.

Section 654, community parent resource centers. Section 654(a) would authorize the Secretary to make awards to local parent organizations (a term defined in section 656(b)) to support parent training and information centers that will help ensure that underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of children with limited English proficiency, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information they need to enable them to participate effectively in helping their children with disabilities meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, and be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible.

Subsection (b) would require each center assisted under section 654 to: (1) provide training and information that meets the training and information needs of parents of children with disabilities proposed to be served by the award; (2) carry out the activities required of parent training and information centers under paragraphs (2) through (5) of section 653(b); (3) establish cooperative partnerships with the parent training and information centers funded under section 653; and (4) be designed to meet the specific needs of families who experience significant isolation from available sources of information and support.

Section 655, technical assistance. Section 655(a) would authorize the Secretary to provide technical assistance for developing, assisting, and coordinating parent training and information programs under Part F.

Subsection (b) would allow the Secretary to focus technical assistance under section 655 on areas such as coordinating parent training efforts; providing or helping to disseminate information to projects; assisting centers funded under Part F in evaluating themselves; promoting the use of technology; reaching underserved populations; early childhood services; assistive technology; including children with disabilities in general education programs; transition from early intervention services to preschool, from preschool to school, or from secondary school to postsecondary environments; and alternative methods of dispute resolution.

Section 656, definitions. Section 656 would define the terms "parent organization" and "local parent organization".

Section 657, authorization of appropriations. Section 657(a) would authorize the appropriation, for fiscal years 1997 through 2001, of such sums as may be necessary to carry out Part F.

Subsection (b) would require the Secretary to make at least five awards for community parent resource centers under section 654 for any fiscal year for which the amount appropriated for Part F is at least $13,535,000. This is the amount appropriated for fiscal year 1995 for parent training under current section 631(d) of the Act.

Part G of the IDEA would replace both current Part F (Instructional Media for Individuals with Disabilities) and current Part G (Technology, Educational Media, and Materials for Individuals with Disabilities).

Section 661, findings. Section 661 would set out, as congressional findings to support the revised Part G program, that:

(1) Federal support for technology research and development has resulted in major innovations that have significantly improved the lives of individuals with disabilities;

(2) Federal support for the development and application of technology to address the needs of individuals with disabilities is needed because of the small size of the potential markets;

(3) Federal support is needed to stimulate the development of software, inter-active learning tools, and devices to address the educational needs of children with certain disabilities;

(4) individuals involved in the education of children with disabilities need to be more aware of, and competent in the use of, technology for children with disabilities; and

(5) more information is needed on professional development and organizational arrangements that support the integration of technology into the curriculum to improve educational results for children with disabilities.

Section 662, purposes. Section 662 would state that the purposes of Part G are to: (1) support research on, and the development of, advanced technology, and promote the expanded use of existing technology, that will help improve early intervention and education services for children with disabilities so that they can meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, those challenging standards that have been established for all children, and be prepared to lead productive, independent adult lives to the maximum extent possible; (2) address the educational needs and promote the general welfare of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals through media; and (3) address the educational needs of visually impaired (including blind) and print-disabled individuals and the general welfare of visually impaired individuals through media.

Section 663, technology development. Section 663(a) would authorize the Secretary to make awards to eligible entities (listed in section 610) to support activities that will carry out the first purpose of Part G, stated in section 662(1).

Subsection (b) would authorize the Secretary to support any activities that are consistent with subsection (a), including eight specific types of activities listed in the bill.

Section 664, educational media services. Section 664(a) would authorize the Secretary to make awards to eligible entities to support the use of media to carry out the second and third purposes of Part G, as stated in section 662(2) and (3). Subsection (b) would permit the Secretary to support any activities that are consistent with those purposes, including four particular types of activities listed in the bill.

Section 665, authorization of appropriations. Section 665 would authorize the appropriation, for fiscal years 1997 through 2001, of such sums as may be necessary to carry out Part G.

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