Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 1.djvu/147

 PUBLIC LAW 105-17-JUNE 4, 1997 111 STAT. 123 "(f) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.— The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the establishment or operation of the Council. "SEC. 645. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 20 USC 1445. "For the purpose of carrying out this part, there are authorized to be appropriated $400,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2002. " PART D—NATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES "Subpart 1—State Program Improvement Grants for Children with Disabilities "SEC. 651. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 20 USC 1451. "(a) FINDINGS.— The Congress finds the following: "(1) States are responding with some success to multiple pressures to improve educational and transitional services and results for children with disabilities in response to growing demands imposed by ever-changing factors, such as demographics, social policies, and labor and economic markets. "(2) In order for States to address such demands and to facilitate lasting systemic change that is of benefit to all students, including children with disabilities. States must involve local educational agencies, parents, individuals with disabilities and their families, teachers and other service providers, and other interested individuals and organizations in carrying out comprehensive strategies to improve educational results for children with disabilities. "(3) Targeted Federal financial resources are needed to assist States, working in partnership with others, to identify and make needed changes to address the needs of children with disabilities into the next century. "(4) State educational agencies, in partnership with local educational agencies and other individuals and organizations, are in the best position to identify and design ways to meet emerging and expanding demands to improve education for children with disabilities and to address their special needs. "(5) Research, demonstration, and practice over the past 20 years in special education and related disciplines have built a foundation of knowledge on which State and local systemicchange activities can now be based. "(6) Such research, demonstration, and practice in special education and related disciplines have demonstrated that an effective educational system now and in the future must— "(A) maintain high academic standards and clear performance goals for children with disabilities, consistent with the standards and expectations for all students in the educational system, and provide for appropriate and effective strategies and methods to ensure that students who are children with disabilities have maximum opportunities to achieve those standards and goals; "(B) create a system that fully addresses the needs of all students, including children with disabilities, by

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