 
         CHAPTER 33--EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
 
SUBCHAPTER IV--NATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH 
                              DISABILITIES
 
     Part B--Coordinated Research, Personnel Preparation, Technical 
          Assistance, Support, and Dissemination of Information
 
 subpart 1--improving early intervention, educational, and transitional 
services and results for children with disabilities through coordinated 
                   research and personnel preparation
 
Sec. 1474. Studies and evaluations


(a) Studies and evaluations

                           (1) In general

        The Secretary shall, directly or through grants, contracts, or 
    cooperative agreements, assess the progress in the implementation of 
    this chapter, including the effectiveness of State and local efforts 
    to provide--
            (A) a free appropriate public education to children with 
        disabilities; and
            (B) early intervention services to infants and toddlers with 
        disabilities and infants and toddlers who would be at risk of 
        having substantial developmental delays if early intervention 
        services were not provided to them.

                      (2) Authorized activities

        In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may support 
    studies, evaluations, and assessments, including studies that--
            (A) analyze measurable impact, outcomes, and results 
        achieved by State educational agencies and local educational 
        agencies through their activities to reform policies, 
        procedures, and practices designed to improve educational and 
        transitional services and results for children with 
        disabilities;
            (B) analyze State and local needs for professional 
        development, parent training, and other appropriate activities 
        that can reduce the need for disciplinary actions involving 
        children with disabilities;
            (C) assess educational and transitional services and results 
        for children with disabilities from minority backgrounds, 
        including--
                (i) data on--
                    (I) the number of minority children who are referred 
                for special education evaluation;
                    (II) the number of minority children who are 
                receiving special education and related services and 
                their educational or other service placement; and
                    (III) the number of minority children who graduated 
                from secondary and postsecondary education programs; and

                (ii) the performance of children with disabilities from 
            minority backgrounds on State assessments and other 
            performance indicators established for all students;

            (D) measure educational and transitional services and 
        results of children with disabilities under this chapter, 
        including longitudinal studies that--
                (i) examine educational and transitional services and 
            results for children with disabilities who are 3 through 17 
            years of age and are receiving special education and related 
            services under this chapter, using a national, 
            representative sample of distinct age cohorts and disability 
            categories; and
                (ii) examine educational results, postsecondary 
            placement, and employment status of individuals with 
            disabilities, 18 through 21 years of age, who are receiving 
            or have received special education and related services 
            under this chapter; and

            (E) identify and report on the placement of children with 
        disabilities by disability category.

(b) National assessment

                           (1) In general

        The Secretary shall carry out a national assessment of 
    activities carried out with Federal funds under this chapter in 
    order--
            (A) to determine the effectiveness of this chapter in 
        achieving its purposes;
            (B) to provide information to the President, the Congress, 
        the States, local educational agencies, and the public on how to 
        implement the \1\ chapter more effectively; and
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            (C) to provide the President and the Congress with 
        information that will be useful in developing legislation to 
        achieve the purposes of this chapter more effectively.

                          (2) Consultation

        The Secretary shall plan, review, and conduct the national 
    assessment under this subsection in consultation with researchers, 
    State practitioners, local practitioners, parents of children with 
    disabilities, individuals with disabilities, and other appropriate 
    individuals.

                       (3) Scope of assessment

        The national assessment shall examine how well schools, local 
    educational agencies, States, other recipients of assistance under 
    this chapter, and the Secretary are achieving the purposes of this 
    chapter, including--
            (A) improving the performance of children with disabilities 
        in general scholastic activities and assessments as compared to 
        nondisabled children;
            (B) providing for the participation of children with 
        disabilities in the general curriculum;
            (C) helping children with disabilities make successful 
        transitions from--
                (i) early intervention services to preschool education;
                (ii) preschool education to elementary school; and
                (iii) secondary school to adult life;

            (D) placing and serving children with disabilities, 
        including minority children, in the least restrictive 
        environment appropriate;
            (E) preventing children with disabilities, especially 
        children with emotional disturbances and specific learning 
        disabilities, from dropping out of school;
            (F) addressing behavioral problems of children with 
        disabilities as compared to nondisabled children;
            (G) coordinating services provided under this chapter with 
        each other, with other educational and pupil services (including 
        preschool services), and with health and social services funded 
        from other sources;
            (H) providing for the participation of parents of children 
        with disabilities in the education of their children; and
            (I) resolving disagreements between education personnel and 
        parents through activities such as mediation.

                    (4) Interim and final reports

        The Secretary shall submit to the President and the Congress--
            (A) an interim report that summarizes the preliminary 
        findings of the assessment not later than October 1, 1999; and
            (B) a final report of the findings of the assessment not 
        later than October 1, 2001.

(c) Annual report

    The Secretary shall report annually to the Congress on--
        (1) an analysis and summary of the data reported by the States 
    and the Secretary of the Interior under section 1418 of this title;
        (2) the results of activities conducted under subsection (a) of 
    this section;
        (3) the findings and determinations resulting from reviews of 
    State implementation of this chapter.

(d) Technical assistance to LEA

    The Secretary shall provide directly, or through grants, contracts, 
or cooperative agreements, technical assistance to local educational 
agencies to assist them in carrying out local capacity-building and 
improvement projects under section 1411(f)(4) of this title and other 
LEA systemic improvement activities under this chapter.

(e) Reservation for studies and technical assistance

                           (1) In general

        Except as provided in paragraph (2) and notwithstanding any 
    other provision of this chapter, the Secretary may reserve up to 
    one-half of one percent of the amount appropriated under subchapters 
    II and III of this chapter for each fiscal year to carry out this 
    section.

                         (2) Maximum amount

        For the first fiscal year in which the amount described in 
    paragraph (1) is at least $20,000,000, the maximum amount the 
    Secretary may reserve under paragraph (1) is $20,000,000. For each 
    subsequent fiscal year, the maximum amount the Secretary may reserve 
    under paragraph (1) is $20,000,000, increased by the cumulative rate 
    of inflation since the fiscal year described in the previous 
    sentence.

                      (3) Use of maximum amount

        In any fiscal year described in paragraph (2) for which the 
    Secretary reserves the maximum amount described in that paragraph, 
    the Secretary shall use at least half of the reserved amount for 
    activities under subsection (d) of this section.

(Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 674, as added Pub. L. 105-17, title I, 
Sec. 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 143.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Prior sections 1474 to 1480 were repealed by Pub. L. 105-17, title 
II, Sec. 203(b), June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 157, effective July 1, 1998.
    Section 1474, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 674, as added Pub. L. 
99-457, title I, Sec. 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1147, related to 
general eligibility.
    Section 1475, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 675, as added Pub. L. 
99-457, title I, Sec. 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1147; amended Pub. 
L. 100-630, title I, Sec. 108(c), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3301; Pub. L. 
101-476, title IX, Sec. 901(b)(165), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1150; Pub. 
L. 102-52, Sec. 10, June 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 263; Pub. L. 102-119, 
Secs. 19(c), 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 601, 607, related to 
continuing eligibility.
    Section 1476, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 675, as added Pub. L. 
99-457, title I, Sec. 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1147; amended Pub. 
L. 100-630, title I, Sec. 108(c), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3301; Pub. L. 
101-476, title IX, Sec. 901(b)(165), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1150; Pub. 
L. 102-52, Sec. 10, June 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 263; Pub. L. 102-119, 
Secs. 19(c), 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 601, 607, related to the 
minimum components for a statewide system providing early intervention 
services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
    Section 1477, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 677, as added Pub. L. 
99-457, title I, Sec. 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1149; amended Pub. 
L. 100-630, title I, Sec. 108(f), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3301; Pub. L. 
101-476, title IX, Sec. 901(b)(174)-(176), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 
1150; Pub. L. 102-119, Secs. 14, 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 597, 
607, related to the individualized family service plan.
    Section 1478, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 678, as added Pub. L. 
99-457, title I, Sec. 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1150; amended Pub. 
L. 100-630, title I, Sec. 108(g), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3302; Pub. L. 
101-476, title IX, Sec. 901(b)(177), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1150; Pub. 
L. 102-119, Secs. 15, 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 597, 607, related 
to contents of State application, statement of assurances, and approval 
process.
    Section 1479, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 679, as added Pub. L. 
99-457, title I, Sec. 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1151; amended Pub. 
L. 100-630, title I, Sec. 108(h), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3302; Pub. L. 
101-476, title IX, Sec. 901(b)(178), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1150; Pub. 
L. 102-119, Secs. 16, 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 598, 607, related 
to permissible uses of funds.
    Section 1480, Pub. L. 91-230, title VI, Sec. 680, as added Pub. L. 
99-457, title I, Sec. 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1152; amended Pub. 
L. 100-630, title I, Sec. 108(i), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3302; Pub. L. 
101-476, title IX, Sec. 901(b)(179), (180), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 
1150; Pub. L. 102-119, Secs. 17, 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 598, 
607, related to procedural safeguards.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 1411, 1419, 1451, 1471, 
1472, 1481 of this title.
