Barrier BustersServing Citizens with Disabilities and Their Families In Meriwether County | Fall 2000 Issue |
Inside this NewsletterFYIGeorgia scored 38th in a national ranking by state on inclusion of children with mental retardation, ages 6 - 21, in the regular classroom during the 1996-97 school year. Of students with mental retardation only 6% were included in regular education classrooms. The above data was taken form the Twenty-First Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1999) recently published on the Internet. To review the data, go to www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS. The state Board of Education voted on August 10, to approve the latest draft of the special education rules. The adopted state rules bring Georgia's special education policies and procedures into compliance with the 1997 re-authorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The approved rules are available on the Department of Education web site: www.doe.k12.ga.us or you can call (404) 656-3963 to request a hard copy. The Georgia State Board of Education representative for the Third Congressional District is Mr. J. T. Williams, Jr. His address is Killearn Properties, Inc. 1570 Rock Quarry Road, Suite B, Stockbridge, GA 30281. 770-389-2004, Fax: 770-389-2010. Home address is 127 Glen Eagle Way, McDonough, GA 30253, 770-389-0965. |
Grants Totaling $7.5 Million Awarded to Nine StatesThe U.S. Department of Education announced the award of nine state grants in May 2000, totaling $7.5 million annually for five years, to help improve special and general education services for students with disabilities. The $7.5 million supplements $18 million granted to 18 other states last year. The nine state receiving the funds are Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota and Oklahoma. "This valuable program helps states and schools address such critical issues as teacher shortages and the need for highly qualified personnel," said Judith E. Heumann, assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services. "As we continue to work toward a common goal of educational excellence for all children, we see the difference that this form of assistance can make in our schools and in the lives of students with disabilities." Under the competitive State Improvement Grant Program, established by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997, states can apply for funding to reform and improve their systems for providing educational, early intervention and transitional services. States are required to use 75 percent of the money for the professional development of educators, administrators and related services personnel. Addressing this need, many states combine grant funds with professional development resources from other federal programs. Remaining dollars can be used for technical assistance and disseminating information about best educational practices to improve results for children with disabilities. To be considered for an award, a state improvement plan must be submitted, based on a comprehensive needs assessment. The assessment identifies critical aspects of early intervention and regular and special education that must be improved to enable children with disabilities to meet the goals that each state must establish for itself under IDEA. Areas assessed include training and personnel needs, the performance of children with disabilities, program effectiveness and the major findings of state monitoring reports. In the last two years, the departmentís Office of Special Education Programs has funded 27 of 59 state grant applications received. Through a variety of innovative methods, the funded states address special education staff shortages, including efforts to recruit and retain racial and linguistic minorities, as well as people with disabilities. Approaches to confronting these shortages include:
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