§1485. Coordinated technical assistance and dissemination

(a) In general

The Secretary shall, by competitively making grants or entering into contracts and cooperative agreements with eligible entities, provide technical assistance and information, through such mechanisms as institutes, Regional Resource Centers, clearinghouses, and programs that support States and local entities in building capacity, to improve early intervention, educational, and transitional services and results for children with disabilities and their families, and address systemic-change goals and priorities.

(b) Systemic technical assistance; authorized activities

(1) In general

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall carry out or support technical assistance activities, consistent with the objectives described in subsection (a) of this section, relating to systemic change.

(2) Authorized activities

Activities that may be carried out under this subsection include activities such as the following:

(A) Assisting States, local educational agencies, and other participants in partnerships established under part A of this subchapter with the process of planning systemic changes that will promote improved early intervention, educational, and transitional results for children with disabilities.

(B) Promoting change through a multistate or regional framework that benefits States, local educational agencies, and other participants in partnerships that are in the process of achieving systemic-change outcomes.

(C) Increasing the depth and utility of information in ongoing and emerging areas of priority need identified by States, local educational agencies, and other participants in partnerships that are in the process of achieving systemic-change outcomes.

(D) Promoting communication and information exchange among States, local educational agencies, and other participants in partnerships, based on the needs and concerns identified by the participants in the partnerships, rather than on externally imposed criteria or topics, regarding-

(i) the practices, procedures, and policies of the States, local educational agencies, and other participants in partnerships; and

(ii) accountability of the States, local educational agencies, and other participants in partnerships for improved early intervention, educational, and transitional results for children with disabilities.

(c) Specialized technical assistance; authorized activities

(1) In general

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall carry out or support activities, consistent with the objectives described in subsection (a) of this section, relating to areas of priority or specific populations.

(2) Authorized activities

Examples of activities that may be carried out under this subsection include activities that-

(A) focus on specific areas of high-priority need that-

(i) are identified by States, local educational agencies, and other participants in partnerships;

(ii) require the development of new knowledge, or the analysis and synthesis of substantial bodies of information not readily available to the States, agencies, and other participants in partnerships; and

(iii) will contribute significantly to the improvement of early intervention, educational, and transitional services and results for children with disabilities and their families;

(B) focus on needs and issues that are specific to a population of children with disabilities, such as the provision of single-State and multi-State technical assistance and in-service training-

(i) to schools and agencies serving deaf-blind children and their families; and

(ii) to programs and agencies serving other groups of children with low-incidence disabilities and their families; or

(C) address the postsecondary education needs of individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

(d) National information dissemination; authorized activities

(1) In general

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall carry out or support information dissemination activities that are consistent with the objectives described in subsection (a) of this section, including activities that address national needs for the preparation and dissemination of information relating to eliminating barriers to systemic-change and improving early intervention, educational, and transitional results for children with disabilities.

(2) Authorized activities

Examples of activities that may be carried out under this subsection include activities relating to-

(A) infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, and children with disabilities and their families;

(B) services for populations of children with low-incidence disabilities, including deaf-blind children, and targeted age groupings;

(C) the provision of postsecondary services to individuals with disabilities;

(D) the need for and use of personnel to provide services to children with disabilities, and personnel recruitment, retention, and preparation;

(E) issues that are of critical interest to State educational agencies and local educational agencies, other agency personnel, parents of children with disabilities, and individuals with disabilities;

(F) educational reform and systemic change within States; and

(G) promoting schools that are safe and conducive to learning.

(3) Linking States to information sources

In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may support projects that link States to technical assistance resources, including special education and general education resources, and may make research and related products available through libraries, electronic networks, parent training projects, and other information sources.

(e) Applications

An eligible entity that wishes to receive a grant, or enter into a contract or cooperative agreement, under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, §685, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, §101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 152 ; amended Pub. L. 106–402, title IV, §401(b)(1), Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1737 .)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1485, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, §686, formerly §685, as added Pub. L. 99–457, title I, §101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1155 ; renumbered §686 and amended Pub. L. 102–119, §§20, 21(1), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 602 , related to authorization of appropriations, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–17, title II, §203(b), June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 157 , effective July 1, 1998.

A prior section 685 of Pub. L. 91–230 was classified to section 1484a of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–17, title II, §203(b), June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 157 , effective July 1, 1998.

Amendments

2000-Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 106–402, which directed the substitution of "the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000" for "the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act" in section 685(b)(4) of Pub. L. 91–230 (this section), could not be executed because the language to be struck does not appear and this section does not contain a subsec. (b)(4). Amendment was probably intended for prior section 685 of Pub. L. 91–230, which was classified to section 1484a of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–17. See Prior Provisions note above.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 1090, 1461, 1482, 1486 of this title.