IDEA Information

IDEA
SPECIAL EDUCATION
$11.3 Billion

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PURPOSE

The purpose of the Special Education Grants to States program, as authorized under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), is to provide grants to help States, outlying areas, freely associated States and the Department of the Interior to ensure a free, appropriate public education for children with disabilities that meets challenging standards and prepares them for higher education, employment, and independent living.

The Department has identified the following examples of specific projects that grantees might consider to achieve the objectives of the ARRA:

  • Obtain state-of-the art assistive technology devices and provide training in their use to enhance access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities*.
  • Provide intensive district-wide professional development for special education and regular education teachers that focuses on* scaling-up, through replication, proven and innovative evidence-based school-wide strategies in reading, math, writing and science,* and positive behavioral supports to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
  • Develop or expand the capacity to collect and use data to improve teaching and learning.*

SCHEDULE

MILESTONE DATE
The Department of Education shall award the first 50 percent of the ARRA IDEA Grants to States funds to States. 2009-04-01
The Department of Education shall award the second 50 percent of the ARRA IDEA Grants to States funds to States. 2009-09-30
The Department of Education will complete IDEA ARRA use of funds desk audits for the 57 States (or other entities that serve as fiscal agents) receiving funds under the IDEA Grants to States program. (29 States by January 2010, and the remaining States by September 2010. 2010-01-29

*(all items marked in red support RM Education Solutions for stimulus funds)
The information provided was researched from: http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/program-plan&program_id=7575