[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 608 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 608

To provide for personnel preparation, enhanced support and training for 
 beginning special educators, and professional development of special 
    educators, general educators, and early intervention personnel.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 12, 2003

 Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Kennedy) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for personnel preparation, enhanced support and training for 
 beginning special educators, and professional development of special 
    educators, general educators, and early intervention personnel.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Personnel Excellence for Students 
with Disabilities Act''.

SEC. 2. STATE PERSONNEL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

    Subpart 1 of part D (20 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended to read as 
follows:

    ``Subpart 1--State Personnel and Professional Development Grants

``SEC. 651. FINDINGS; PURPOSE; DEFINITION.

    ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) The right of all children with disabilities to a free 
        and appropriate public education requires States to adopt a 
        comprehensive strategy to address teacher shortages and ensure 
        adequate numbers of teachers to serve children with 
        disabilities.
            ``(2) In order to ensure that the persons responsible for 
        the education of children with disabilities possess the skills 
        and knowledge necessary to address such children's educational 
        and related needs, States must promote comprehensive programs 
        of professional development.
            ``(3) The dissemination of research-based knowledge about 
        successful teaching practices and models to teachers and other 
        personnel serving children with disabilities can result in 
        improved outcomes for children with disabilities.
    ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this subpart is to assist State 
educational agencies and local educational agencies, and their partners 
referred to in section 652, in providing support for, and improving 
their systems of, personnel preparation and professional development to 
improve results for children with disabilities.
    ``(c) Definition of Postsecondary Opportunities.--In this subpart, 
the term `postsecondary opportunities' includes the transition from 
school to postsecondary education, adult services, or work.

``SEC. 652. ELIGIBILITY AND COLLABORATION PROCESS IN GRANTS TO STATES.

    ``(a) Eligible Applicants; Duration of Assistance.--A State 
educational agency may apply for a grant under this subpart for a grant 
period of 4 years.
    ``(b) Partnerships and Consultations.--In order to be considered 
for a grant under this subpart, a State educational agency shall--
            ``(1) establish a formal partnership with local educational 
        agencies, the lead State agency for part C, the State agency 
        responsible for child care, the State vocational rehabilitation 
        agency, the State agency for higher education, representatives 
        of State-approved special education personnel preparation 
        programs in institutions of higher education within the State, 
        parent training and information centers or community parent 
        resource centers, and other State agencies involved in, or 
        concerned with, the education of children with disabilities; 
        and
            ``(2) consult with other public agencies, persons, and 
        organizations with relevant expertise in, and concerned with, 
        the education of children with disabilities, including--
                    ``(A) parents of children with disabilities and 
                parents of nondisabled children;
                    ``(B) general and special education teachers, 
                paraprofessionals, related services personnel, and 
                early intervention personnel;
                    ``(C) the State advisory panel established under 
                part B;
                    ``(D) the State interagency coordinating council 
                established under part C;
                    ``(E) community-based and other nonprofit 
                organizations representing individuals with 
                disabilities; and
                    ``(F) other providers of professional development 
                and personnel preparation for personnel that work with 
                infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children with 
                disabilities, and nonprofit organizations whose primary 
                purpose is education research and development, when 
                appropriate.

``SEC. 653. STATE APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--A State educational agency that desires to 
receive a grant under this subpart shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and including such 
information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(b) Partnership Agreement.--Each application submitted pursuant 
to this section shall specify the nature and extent of the partnership 
among the State educational agency and other partners (as described in 
section 652(b)), including the respective roles of each member of the 
partnership, and shall describe how grant funds allocated to the State 
under section 655 will be used in undertaking the improvement 
strategies described under subsection (c)(3).
    ``(c) Personnel and Professional Development Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
        this section shall include a personnel and professional 
        development plan that is--
                    ``(A) based on the needs assessment described in 
                paragraph (2);
                    ``(B) developed by the State educational agency in 
                collaboration with the partners described under section 
                652(b)(1);
                    ``(C) designed to enable the State to meet the 
                standards described in section 612(a)(15) and implement 
                the comprehensive system of personnel development under 
section 612(a)(14); and
                    ``(D) coordinated with other State professional 
                development plans for educators and personnel working 
                with children in early childhood education programs.
            ``(2) Needs assessment.--Each personnel and professional 
        development plan shall include an assessment of State and local 
        needs that identifies critical aspects and areas in need of 
        improvement related to the preparation, ongoing training, and 
        professional development of personnel that serve infants, 
        toddlers, preschoolers, and children with disabilities within 
        the State. Such assessment shall be based on an analysis of--
                    ``(A) current and anticipated personnel vacancies 
                and shortages in local educational agencies and local 
                early intervention agencies or providers throughout the 
                State, including the number of individuals currently 
                serving children with disabilities that--
                            ``(i) are not highly qualified, consistent 
                        with section 612(a)(15);
                            ``(ii) are individuals with temporary, 
                        provisional, or emergency certification; or
                            ``(iii) are individuals teaching with an 
                        alternative certification;
                    ``(B) the extent and amount of certification or 
                retraining necessary to eliminate the vacancies and 
                shortages described in subparagraph (A);
                    ``(C) current preservice and inservice training and 
                preparation programs and activities available and 
                accessible in the State to personnel that serve 
                infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children with 
                disabilities, including--
                            ``(i) the number of degree, certification, 
                        and licensure programs that are preparing 
                        general and special education teachers and 
                        personnel to serve children with high-incidence 
                        and low-incidence disabilities;
                            ``(ii) the number of noncertification 
                        programs designed to train and prepare 
                        personnel to serve infants, toddlers, 
                        preschoolers, and children with disabilities, 
                        including the number of programs designed to 
                        provide training in early intervention and 
                        transitional services; and
                            ``(iii) the number of programs or 
                        activities designed to provide the knowledge 
                        and skills necessary to ensure the successful 
                        transition of students with disabilities into 
                        postsecondary opportunities; and
                    ``(D) information, reasonably available to the 
                State, on the scope and effectiveness of current 
                training and preparation programs and activities 
                available in the State to personnel that serve children 
                with disabilities, including--
                            ``(i) access of general education teachers 
                        to preservice and inservice training in early 
                        intervention and special education, including 
                        training related to the diverse learning and 
                        developmental needs of children with 
                        disabilities;
                            ``(ii) rates of attrition of special 
                        education teachers and early intervention 
                        personnel throughout the State and a 
                        description of factors that contribute to such 
                        attrition;
                            ``(iii) data and major findings of the 
                        Secretary's most recent reviews of State 
                        compliance, as such reviews relate to meeting 
                        the standards described in section 612(a)(15) 
                        and implementing a comprehensive system of 
                        personnel development described under sections 
                        612(a)(14) and 635(a)(8); and
                            ``(iv) data regarding disproportionality 
                        required under section 618.
            ``(3) Improvement strategies.--Each personnel and 
        professional development plan shall describe strategies 
        necessary to address the preparation and professional 
        development areas in need of improvement, based on the needs 
        assessment conducted under paragraph (2), that include--
                    ``(A) how the State will respond to the needs for 
                preservice and inservice preparation of personnel who 
                work with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children 
                with disabilities, including strategies to--
                            ``(i) prepare all general and special 
                        education personnel (including both 
                        professional and paraprofessional personnel who 
                        provide special education, general education, 
                        or related services)--
                                    ``(I) with the knowledge and skills 
                                needed to meet the needs of, and 
improve results for, children with disabilities;
                                    ``(II) to utilize classroom-based 
                                techniques to identify students who may 
                                be eligible for special education 
                                services or other services prior to 
                                making referrals for special education 
                                services;
                                    ``(III) to help students with 
                                disabilities meet State academic 
                                standards;
                                    ``(IV) to work as part of a 
                                collaborative team, especially training 
                                related to all aspects of planning, 
                                design, and effective implementation of 
                                an IEP; and
                                    ``(V) to utilize effective parental 
                                involvement practices needed to work 
                                with and involve parents of children 
                                with disabilities in their child's 
                                education;
                            ``(ii) prepare professionals, including 
                        professionals in preschool settings, and 
                        paraprofessionals in the area of early 
                        intervention with the knowledge and skills 
                        needed to meet the needs of infants, toddlers, 
                        and preschoolers with disabilities;
                            ``(iii) develop the knowledge and skills 
                        and enhance the ability of teachers and other 
                        personnel responsible for providing transition 
                        services to improve such services and 
                        postsecondary opportunities for children with 
                        disabilities;
                            ``(iv) enhance the ability of principals to 
                        provide instructional leadership on, and 
                        teachers and other school staff to use, 
                        strategies, such as positive behavioral 
                        interventions, to address the behavior of 
                        children with disabilities that impedes the 
                        learning of children with disabilities and 
                        others; and
                            ``(v) ensure that school personnel who work 
                        with students with significant health, 
                        mobility, or behavior needs receive training, 
                        as appropriate, prior to serving such students;
                    ``(B) how the State will collaborate with 
                institutions of higher education and other entities 
                that (on both a preservice and an inservice basis) 
                prepare personnel who work with children with 
                disabilities to develop such entities' capacity to 
                support quality professional development programs that 
                meet State and local needs;
                    ``(C) how the State will identify model 
                certification programs that may be used to create and 
                improve certification requirements for personnel 
                working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and 
                children with disabilities;
                    ``(D) how the State will provide technical 
                assistance to local educational agencies, schools, and 
                early intervention providers to improve the quality of 
                training and professional development available to meet 
                the needs of personnel that serve children with 
                disabilities;
                    ``(E) how the State will work in collaboration with 
                other States, especially neighboring States, when 
                possible, to--
                            ``(i) address the lack of uniformity and 
                        reciprocity in the credentialing of teachers 
                        and other personnel;
                            ``(ii) support or develop programs to 
                        prepare personnel for which there is not 
                        sufficient demand within a single State to 
                        justify support or development of such a 
                        program of preparation; and
                            ``(iii) develop, as appropriate, common 
                        certification criteria;
                    ``(F) how the State will acquire and disseminate, 
                to teachers, administrators, related services 
                personnel, other service providers, and school board 
                members, significant knowledge derived from educational 
                research and other sources, and how the State will 
                adopt promising practices, materials, and technology;
                    ``(G) how the State will recruit and retain 
                qualified personnel in geographic areas of greatest 
                need, including personnel with disabilities and 
                personnel from groups that are underrepresented in the 
                fields of regular education, special education, related 
                services, and early intervention;
                    ``(H) how the State will create collaborative 
                training models and provide for the joint training of 
                parents and special education, related services, and 
                general education personnel in providing quality 
                services and programs, and family involvement and 
                support;
                    ``(I) how the State will address systemic problems 
                associated with meeting the standards described in 
                section 612(a)(15) and implementing the comprehensive 
                system of personnel development under section 
                612(a)(14), as identified in Federal compliance 
                reviews, including shortages of qualified personnel; 
                and
                    ``(J) how the State will address the findings from 
                the data required to be gathered under section 618 and 
                the steps the State will take to ensure that poor and 
                minority children are not taught at higher rates than 
                other children by inexperienced, unqualified, or out-
                of-field teachers, including the measures that the 
                State educational agency will use to evaluate and 
                publicly report the progress of the State educational 
                agency with respect to such steps.
            ``(4) Coordination and integration.--Each application 
        submitted pursuant to this section shall--
                    ``(A) include assurances that--
                            ``(i) the personnel and professional 
                        development plan is integrated, to the maximum 
                        extent possible, with State plans and 
                        activities carried out under other Federal and 
                        State laws that address personnel recruitment, 
                        retention, and training, including plans 
                        carried out under titles I and II of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, 
                        the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Higher 
                        Education Act of 1965, and the Child Care and 
                        Development Block Grant Act of 1990, as 
                        appropriate;
                            ``(ii) the personnel and professional 
                        development plan is integrated and based, to 
                        the maximum extent possible, on research and 
                        activities supported by grants under sections 
                        672 and 673 and conducted by institutions of 
                        higher education throughout the State; and
                            ``(iii) the improvement strategies 
                        described in paragraph (3) will be coordinated 
                        with activities undertaken by public and 
                        private institutions of higher education, as 
                        well as with public and private sector 
                        resources, when appropriate; and
                    ``(B) contain a description of the amount and 
                nature of funds from any other sources, including part 
                B funds retained for use at the State level for 
                personnel and professional development purposes under 
                sections 611(f) and 619(d), and part C funds used in 
                accordance with section 638, that will be committed to 
the systemic-change activities under this section.
            ``(5) Other information.--A State educational agency shall 
        submit to the Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the 
        Secretary may require, such additional information regarding 
        the preparation and professional development of personnel that 
        serve children with disabilities in the personnel and 
        professional development plan.

``SEC. 654. STATE USE OF FUNDS.

    ``(a) In General.--A State educational agency that receives a grant 
under this subpart shall--
            ``(1) expend funds not reserved under paragraph (2) to 
        carry out improvement strategies contained in the personnel and 
        professional development plan under section 653(c)(3); and
            ``(2) in the case of a State educational agency serving a 
        State that the Secretary determines has not met the standards 
        in section 612(a)(15) or implemented the comprehensive system 
        of personnel development under section 612(a)(14), reserve not 
        less than 35 percent of funds made available through the grant 
        to award subgrants to local educational agencies as described 
        in section 657.
    ``(b) Contracts and Subcontracts.--Consistent with the partnership 
agreement described under section 652(b), a State educational agency 
shall award contracts or subgrants to local educational agencies and 
institutions of higher education with State-approved special education 
personnel preparation programs, and may award contracts or subgrants to 
the lead State agency for part C, or other nonprofit entities, as 
appropriate, to carry out such State educational agency's personnel and 
professional development plan under this subpart.
    ``(c) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Funds received by a State 
educational agency under this subpart shall be used to supplement, and 
not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be used for 
activities authorized under this subpart.

``SEC. 655. STATE ALLOTMENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make a grant to each State 
educational agency whose application the Secretary has approved under 
section 653. Each grant shall consist of the allotment determined for a 
State under subsection (b).
    ``(b) Determination of Allotments.--
            ``(1) Reservation of funds.--From the total amount 
        appropriated under section 658 for a fiscal year, the Secretary 
        shall reserve--
                    ``(A) one-half of 1 percent for allotments for the 
                United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the 
                Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the 
                Republic of Palau, the freely associated States of the 
                Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of 
                Micronesia, to be distributed among those areas on the 
                basis of their relative need, as determined by the 
                Secretary, in accordance with the purpose of this 
                subpart; and
                    ``(B) one-half of 1 percent for the Secretary of 
                the Interior for programs under this subpart in schools 
                operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
            ``(2) State allotments.--
                    ``(A) Minimum allotment.--From the funds 
                appropriated under section 658, and not reserved under 
                paragraph (1), the Secretary shall allot to each of the 
                50 States, the District of Columbia, and the 
                Commonwealth of Puerto Rico an amount for each fiscal 
                year that is not less than $500,000.
                    ``(B) Allotment of remaining funds.--For any fiscal 
                year for which the funds appropriated under section 
                658, and not reserved under paragraph (1), exceed the 
                total amount required to make allotments under 
                subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall distribute to 
                each of the States described in subparagraph (A), the 
                remaining excess funds after considering--
                            ``(i) the amount of the excess funds 
                        available for distribution;
                            ``(ii) the relative population of the 
                        States; and
                            ``(iii) the scope and quality of activities 
                        proposed by the States.
            ``(3) Funds to remain available.--Allotments made to States 
        under this section shall remain available until expended.
            ``(4) Reallotment.--If any State does not apply for an 
        allotment under this subsection for any fiscal year, the 
        Secretary shall reallot the amount of the allotment to the 
        remaining States in accordance with this subsection.

``SEC. 656. EVALUATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--Each State educational agency that receives a 
grant under this subpart shall submit an evaluation to the Secretary at 
such time as the Secretary may require, but not more frequently than 
annually.
    ``(b) Evaluation Components.--Each evaluation submitted to the 
Secretary shall include--
            ``(1) the data contained in the needs assessment described 
        in section 653(c)(2);
            ``(2) a description of the progress made by the State in 
        implementing each of the strategies described in section 
        653(c)(3);
            ``(3) an assessment, conducted on a regular basis, of the 
        extent to which the personnel and professional development plan 
        has been effective in enabling States to meet the standards 
        described in section 612(a)(15) and implement the comprehensive 
        system of personnel development under section 612(a)(14); and
            ``(4) such other information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(c) Report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
the evaluations received under this section.

``SEC. 657. SUBGRANT AWARDS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES.

    ``(a) In General.--From funds made available under section 
654(a)(2), a State educational agency shall award a subgrant to 
eligible local educational agencies to enable the eligible local 
educational agencies to recruit and retain special education teachers, 
paraprofessionals, and related services providers, to ensure that such 
agency meets the requirements in the policy adopted by the State in 
section 612(a)(15).
    ``(b) Eligible Local Educational Agency.--
            ``(1) In general.--A local educational agency shall be 
        eligible to receive a subgrant under this section if the local 
        educational agency--
                    ``(A)(i) has failed to meet, or is in danger of 
                failing to meet, the standards described in section 
                612(a)(15);
                    ``(ii) serves a high number or percentage of low-
                income students; and
                    ``(iii) has a demonstrated need to prepare and 
                train new or existing personnel to meet the needs of 
                children with disabilities; and
                    ``(B) collects and uses data to determine local 
                needs for professional development, hiring, and 
                retention of personnel, as identified by the local 
                educational agency and school staff--
                            ``(i) with the involvement of teachers, 
                        other personnel, and parents; and
                            ``(ii) after taking into account the 
                        activities that need to be conducted--
                                    ``(I) to give general and special 
                                education teachers, paraprofessionals, 
                                and related services personnel the 
                                means, including subject matter 
                                knowledge and teaching skills, to 
                                improve results and outcomes for 
                                students with disabilities; and
                                    ``(II) to give principals the 
                                instructional leadership skills to help 
                                teachers and related services personnel 
                                provide students with the opportunity 
                                described in subclause (I).
            ``(2) Consortium.--The term `eligible local educational 
        agency' may include a consortium of such agencies.
    ``(c) Application.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible local educational agency 
        that desires to receive a subgrant under this section shall 
        submit an application to the State educational agency at such 
        time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
        State educational agency may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Contents.--Each application submitted under this 
        subsection shall include--
                    ``(A) a description of the activities to be carried 
                out by the local educational agency and how such 
                activities will support the local educational agency's 
                efforts to provide professional development and to 
                recruit and retain highly qualified teachers; and
                    ``(B) a description of the needs described in 
                subsection (b)(1)(B).
    ``(d) Grants Awarded.--State educational agencies shall award 
grants under this section on the basis of the quality of the 
applications submitted, except that State educational agencies shall 
give priority to eligible local educational agencies with the greatest 
need.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible local educational agency 
        that receives a subgrant under this section shall use the funds 
        made available through the subgrant to carry out 1 or more of 
        the following activities:
                    ``(A) Providing high quality professional 
                development for special education teachers.
                    ``(B) Providing high quality professional 
                development to personnel who serve infants, toddlers, 
                and preschoolers with disabilities.
                    ``(C) Providing high quality professional 
                development for principals, including training in areas 
                such as behavioral supports in the school and 
                classroom, paperwork reduction, and promoting improved 
                collaboration between special education and general 
                education teachers.
                    ``(D) Mentoring programs.
                    ``(E) Team teaching.
                    ``(F) Case load reduction.
                    ``(G) Paperwork reduction.
                    ``(H) Financial incentives, as long as those 
                incentives are linked to participation in activities 
                that have proven effective in recruiting and retaining 
                teachers and are developed in consultation with the 
                personnel of the eligible local educational agency.
                    ``(I) Hiring and training high quality 
                paraprofessionals and providing other high quality 
                instructional support.
                    ``(J) Partnering with institutions of higher 
                education for the training and retraining of teachers 
                and to carry out any other activities under this 
                paragraph.
            ``(2) Effective programs.--Funds under this section shall 
        be used only for those activities that are linked to 
        participation in activities that have proven effective in 
        retaining teachers.
    ``(f) Matching Requirement.--Each eligible local educational agency 
awarded a subgrant under this section shall contribute matching funds, 
in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of the subgrant award, 
toward carrying out the activities assisted under this section.

``SEC. 658. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subpart 
$250,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 and such sums as may be necessary for 
each succeeding fiscal year.''.

SEC. 3. ENHANCED SUPPORT AND TRAINING FOR BEGINNING SPECIAL EDUCATORS 
              AND GENERAL EDUCATORS.

    Chapter 1 of subpart 2 of part D of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 674 the following:

``SEC. 675. ENHANCED SUPPORT AND TRAINING FOR BEGINNING SPECIAL 
              EDUCATORS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
        partnership between 1 or more institutions of higher education 
        with a State-approved special education personnel program, and 
        1 or more local educational agencies.
            ``(2) Professional development partnership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `professional 
                development partnership' means a partnership between an 
                eligible entity and an elementary school or secondary 
                school that is based on a mutual commitment to improve 
                teaching and learning.
                    ``(B) Additional entities.--A professional 
                development partnership may include--
                            ``(i) a State educational agency;
                            ``(ii) a teaching organization;
                            ``(iii) a professional association of 
                        principals; or
                            ``(iv) a nonprofit organization whose 
                        primary purpose is--
                                    ``(I) education research and 
                                development; or
                                    ``(II) training special education 
                                and early intervention personnel.
    ``(b) Authorization of Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under 
        subsection (g) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award 
grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with, 
eligible entities to enable such entities to establish professional 
development partnerships to improve the education of children with 
disabilities by--
                    ``(A) ensuring a strong and steady supply of new 
                highly qualified teachers of children with 
                disabilities;
                    ``(B) helping address challenges in the local 
                educational agency to recruiting highly qualified 
                teachers and retaining such teachers; and
                    ``(C) providing for an exchange of knowledge and 
                skills among special education teachers, including 
                furthering the development and professional growth of 
                veteran special education teachers.
            ``(2) Competitive Basis.--Each grant, contract, or 
        cooperative agreement under this section shall be awarded or 
        entered into on a competitive basis.
            ``(3) Duration.--Each grant, contract, or cooperative 
        agreement under this section shall be awarded or entered into 
        for a period of not less than 3 and not more than 5 years.
            ``(4) Priority.--In awarding grants or entering into 
        contracts or cooperative agreements under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
                    ``(A) serve high numbers or percentages of low-
                income students; and
                    ``(B) serve schools that have failed to make 
                adequate yearly progress toward enabling children with 
                disabilities to meet academic achievement standards.
    ``(c) Applications.--An eligible entity desiring a grant, contract, 
or cooperative agreement under this section shall submit an application 
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
information as the Secretary may require. Each such application shall--
            ``(1) describe--
                    ``(A) the proposed activities of the professional 
                development partnership and how the activities will be 
                developed in consultation with teachers;
                    ``(B) how the proposed activities will prepare 
                teachers to implement research-based, demonstrably 
                successful, and replicable instructional practices that 
                improve outcomes for children with disabilities;
                    ``(C) how the eligible entity will ensure the 
                participation of elementary schools or secondary 
                schools as partners in the professional development 
                partnership, and how the research and knowledge 
                generated by the professional development partnership 
                will be disseminated and implemented in the elementary 
                schools or secondary schools that are served by the 
                local educational agency and are not partners in the 
                professional development partnership;
                    ``(D) how the process for developing a new 
                preservice education program or restructuring an 
                existing program will improve teacher preparation at 
                the institution of higher education;
                    ``(E) how the proposed activities will include the 
                participation of schools, colleges, or other 
                departments within the institution of higher education 
                to ensure the integration of pedagogy and content in 
                teacher preparation;
                    ``(F) how the proposed activities will increase the 
                numbers of qualified personnel, including 
                paraprofessionals, administrators, and related services 
                personnel, that receive certification and serve 
                children with disabilities in elementary schools or 
                secondary schools;
                    ``(G) how the proposed activities will recruit 
                diverse prospective special education teachers;
                    ``(H) how the eligible entity will collaborate with 
                the State educational agency to ensure that proposed 
                activities will be coordinated with activities 
                established by the State to improve systems for 
                personnel preparation and professional development 
                pursuant to subpart 1;
                    ``(I) how the grant funds will be divided among the 
                members of the professional development partnership and 
                the responsibilities each partner has agreed to 
                undertake in the use of the grant funds and other 
                related funds; and
                    ``(J) how the eligible entity will gather 
                information in order to assess the impact of the 
                activities assisted under this section on teachers and 
                the students served under this section; and
            ``(2) identify the lead fiscal agent of the professional 
        development partnership responsible for the receipt and 
        disbursement of funds under this section.
    ``(d) Authorized Activities.--Each eligible entity receiving a 
grant or entering into a contract or cooperative agreement under this 
section shall use the grant funds to establish a professional 
development partnership that--
            ``(1) develops a preservice teacher education program, or 
        enhances and restructures an existing program, to prepare 
        special education teachers, at colleges or departments of 
        education within the institution of higher education, by 
        incorporating an additional 5th year clinical learning 
        opportunity, field experience, or supervised practicum into a 
        program of preparation and coursework for special education 
        teachers, that includes--
                    ``(A) developing new curricula and coursework for 
                the preparation of prospective special education 
                teachers, including preparation to teach in core 
                academic subjects;
                    ``(B) support for new faculty positions to provide, 
                coordinate, and oversee instruction of the clinical 
                learning opportunity, field experience, or supervised 
                practicum;
                    ``(C) new, ongoing performance-based review 
                procedures to assist and support the learning of 
                prospective special education teachers;
                    ``(D) providing assistance to students for stipends 
                and costs associated with tuition and fees for 
                continued or enhanced enrollment in a preparation 
                program for special education teachers; and
                    ``(E) supporting activities that increase the 
                placement of highly qualified teachers in elementary 
                schools and secondary schools; or
            ``(2) creates or supports professional development schools 
        that--
                    ``(A) provide high quality induction opportunities 
                with ongoing support for beginning special education 
                teachers;
                    ``(B) provide mentoring, of prospective and 
                beginning special education teachers by veteran special 
                education teachers, in instructional skills, classroom 
                management skills, and strategies to effectively assess 
                student progress and achievement;
                    ``(C) provide high quality inservice professional 
                development to veteran special education teachers 
                through the ongoing exchange of information and 
                instructional strategies among prospective special 
                education teachers and faculty of the institution of 
                higher education;
                    ``(D) prepare special education teachers to--
                            ``(i) work collaboratively with general 
                        education teachers and related services 
                        personnel; and
                            ``(ii) involve parents in the education of 
                        such parents' children; and
                    ``(E) provide preparation time for faculty in the 
                professional development school, and other faculty of 
                the institution of higher education, to design and 
                implement curriculum, classroom experiences, and 
                ongoing professional development opportunities for 
                prospective and beginning special education teachers.
    ``(e) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Funds appropriated under this 
section shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, 
State, and local public funds available for the professional 
development or preservice preparation of special education teachers.
    ``(f) Evaluation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct biennial, 
        independent, national evaluations of the activities assisted 
        under this part not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of the Personnel Excellence for Students with 
        Disabilities Act. The evaluation shall include information on 
        the impact of the activities assisted under this section on 
        outcomes for children with disabilities.
            ``(2) Report.--The Secretary shall report to Congress on 
        the results of the evaluation.
            ``(3) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall widely 
        disseminate effective practices identified through the 
        evaluation.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 
2004, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal 
year.

``SEC. 676. TRAINING TO SUPPORT GENERAL EDUCATORS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible entities.--The term `eligible entity' means 
        a partnership that--
                    ``(A) shall include--
                            ``(i) 1 or more local educational agencies; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) 1 or more State-approved special 
                        education personnel preparation programs; and
                    ``(B) may include a State educational agency, a 
                teaching organization, a professional association of 
                principals, an educational nonprofit organization, or 
                another group or institution that has expertise in 
                special education and is responsive to the needs of 
                teachers.
            ``(2) General educator.--The term `general educator' 
        includes a teacher, a principal, a school superintendent, or 
        school faculty, such as a school counselor.
            ``(3) Postsecondary opportunities.--The term `postsecondary 
        opportunities' includes the transition from school to 
        postsecondary education, adult services, or work.
    ``(b) Authorization of Program.--
            ``(1) Assistance authorized.--The Secretary may award 
        grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 
        with, eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to 
        provide professional development, leadership training, and 
        collaborative opportunities to general educators to ensure that 
        general educators have the skills and knowledge to meet the 
        needs of, and improve results for, children with disabilities.
            ``(2) Competitive awards.--The Secretary shall award 
        grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under this 
        section on a competitive basis.
    ``(c) Duration.--The Secretary shall award grants, contracts, and 
cooperative agreements under this section for a period of not less than 
3 and not more than 5 years.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant, contract, 
or cooperative agreement under this section shall submit an application 
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
information as the Secretary may require. Each such application shall--
            ``(1) describe--
                    ``(A) the proposed activities to be assisted by the 
                eligible entity;
                    ``(B) how the eligible entity will implement 
                research-based, demonstrably successful, and replicable 
                instructional practices that improve outcomes for 
                children with disabilities;
                    ``(C) how the eligible entity will implement 
                training and collaborative opportunities on a 
                schoolwide basis in schools within the local 
                educational agency;
                    ``(D) the eligible entity's strategy to provide 
                general educators with--
                            ``(i) professional development focused on 
                        addressing the needs of children with 
                        disabilities in their classrooms; and
                            ``(ii) training and opportunities to 
                        collaborate with special education teachers and 
                        related services personnel to better serve 
                        students' needs;
                    ``(E) the eligible entity's strategy to provide 
                principals, superintendents, and other administrators 
                with instructional leadership skills;
                    ``(F) how the eligible entity will provide training 
                to general educators to enable the general educators to 
                work with parents and involve parents in their child's 
                education;
                    ``(G) how the eligible entity will collaborate with 
                the State educational agency to ensure that proposed 
                activities will be coordinated with activities 
                established by the State to improve systems for 
                personnel preparation and professional development 
                pursuant to subpart 1;
                    ``(H) how the grant funds will be effectively 
                coordinated with all Federal, State, and local 
                personnel preparation and professional development 
                funds and activities;
                    ``(I) how the eligible entity will assess the 
                impact of the activities conducted and how the 
                knowledge and effective practices generated by the 
                eligible entity will be widely disseminated;
                    ``(J) how the grant funds will be divided among the 
                members of the partnership and the responsibilities 
                each partner has agreed to undertake in the use of the 
                grant funds and other related funds; and
            ``(2) identify the lead fiscal agent for the eligible 
        entity.
    ``(e) Authorized Activities.--Funds provided under this section may 
be used for the following activities:
            ``(1) To provide high quality professional development to 
        general educators that develops the knowledge and skills, and 
        enhances the ability, of general educators to--
                    ``(A) utilize classroom-based techniques to 
                identify students who may be eligible for special 
                education services, and deliver instruction in a way 
                that meets the individualized needs of children with 
                disabilities through appropriate supports, 
                accommodations, and curriculum modifications;
                    ``(B) work collaboratively with special education 
                teachers and related services personnel;
                    ``(C) implement strategies, such as positive 
                behavioral interventions, to address the behavior of 
                children with disabilities that impedes the learning of 
                such children and others;
                    ``(D) prepare children with disabilities to 
                participate in statewide assessments (with and without 
                accommodations) and alternative assessment, as 
                appropriate, and achieve high marks;
                    ``(E) develop effective practices for ensuring that 
                all children with disabilities are a part of all 
                accountability systems under the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965;
                    ``(F) provide transition services to improve such 
                services and postsecondary opportunities for children 
                with disabilities;
                    ``(G) work with and involve parents of children 
                with disabilities in their child's education;
                    ``(H) understand how to effectively construct IEPs, 
                participate in IEP meetings and implement IEPs;
                    ``(I) use universally designed technology and 
                assistive technology devices and services to enhance 
                learning by children with disabilities and to 
                communicate with parents; and
                    ``(J) in the case of principals and 
                superintendents, be instructional leaders and promote 
                improved collaboration between general educators, 
                special education teachers, and related services 
                personnel.
            ``(2) Provide release and planning time for the activities 
        described in this section.
    ``(f) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds provided under this section 
shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal, State, and 
local funds available for training to support general educators.
    ``(g) Evaluations.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct biennial, 
        independent, national evaluations of the activities assisted 
        under this section not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of the Personnel Excellence for Students with 
        Disabilities Act. The evaluations shall include information on 
        the impact of the activities assisted under this section on 
        outcomes for children with disabilities.
            ``(2) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
        Congress a report on the evaluations.
            ``(3) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall provide for the 
        wide dissemination of effective models and practices identified 
        in the evaluations.
    ``(h) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 and such sums 
as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.''.

SEC. 4. PERSONNEL PREPARATION TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND RESULTS FOR 
              CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.

    Section 673 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
U.S.C. 1473) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting before the semicolon 
        ``, consistent with subpart 1'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as 
                        follows:
                    ``(C) Preparing personnel in the innovative uses 
                and application of technology, including implementation 
                of universally designed technologies and assistive 
                technology devices and assistive technology services, 
                to enhance learning by children with disabilities 
                through early intervention, educational, and 
                transitional services, and to communicate with parents 
                to improve home and school communication.'';
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and 
                        (F) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively;
                            (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (D) 
                        the following:
                    ``(E) Preparing personnel to work in high need 
                elementary schools and secondary schools, including 
                urban schools, rural schools, and schools operated by 
                an entity described in section 7113(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and 
                schools that serve high numbers or percentages of 
                limited English proficient children.''; and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(H) Providing continuous personnel preparation, 
                training, and professional development for beginning 
                special education teachers that is designed to provide 
                support and ensure retention of such teachers.
                    ``(I) Preparing personnel on effective parental 
                involvement practices to enable the personnel to work 
                with parents and involve parents in the education of 
                such parents' children.''; and
                    (B) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
            ``(4) Selection of recipients.--In selecting recipients 
        under this subsection, the Secretary may give preference to 
        applications that include 1 or more of the following:
                    ``(A) A proposal to prepare personnel in more than 
                1 low-incidence disability, such as deafness and 
                blindness.
                    ``(B) A demonstration of effective partnering with 
                local educational agencies that ensures recruitment and 
                subsequent retention of highly qualified personnel to 
                serve children with disabilities.
                    ``(C) A proposal to address the personnel and 
                professional development needs in the State, as 
                identified in subpart 1.'';
            (3) in subsection (d)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking the period 
                        and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) to implement strategies to reduce 
                        significant disproportionality described in 
                        section 618.'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (E), by inserting before the 
                period ``, including model teaching practices to assist 
                such persons to work effectively with parents and 
                involve parents in the education of such parents' 
                children''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(L) Developing strategies to improve personnel 
                training, recruitment, and retention of special 
                education teachers in special education in high need 
                elementary schools and secondary schools, including 
                urban schools, rural schools, and schools operated by 
                an entity described in section 7113(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, and 
                schools that serve high numbers of limited English 
                proficient children.'';
            (4) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``emotional or 
        behavioral disorders,'' after ``impairment,'';
            (5) in subsection (h)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``2 years'' and inserting 
                        ``1 year''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``Obligation.--'' and all 
                        that follows through ``Each application'' and 
                        inserting ``Obligation.--Each application''; 
                        and
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2);
            (6) by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following:
    ``(i) Scholarships.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may include funds for 
        scholarships, with necessary stipends and allowances, in awards 
        under subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e).
            ``(2) Determination of amounts.--The Secretary may permit a 
        grant recipient to determine the amount of funds available for 
        scholarships, necessary stipends, and allowances, that is 
        consistent with such recipient's grant award and the purposes 
        of such grant.'';
            (7) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection (k);
            (8) by inserting after subsection (i) the following:
    ``(j) Development of New Programs or Restructuring of Existing 
Programs.--In making awards under subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e), 
the Secretary may support programs that use award funds to develop new, 
or enhance and restructure existing, personnel preparation programs.''; 
and
            (9) in subsection (k) (as redesignated by paragraph (7))--
                    (A) by inserting ``$250,000,000 for fiscal year 
                2004 and'' after ``this section''; and
                    (B) by striking ``of the fiscal years 1998 through 
                2002'' and inserting ``succeeding fiscal year''.
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