Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/2680

 118 STAT. 2650 PUBLIC LAW 108–446—DEC. 3, 2004 performance of children with disabilities, including the use of scientifically based instructional practices, to the max imum extent possible; ‘‘(F) providing incentives for whole school approaches, scientifically based early reading programs, positive behav ioral interventions and supports, and early intervening services to reduce the need to label children as disabled in order to address the learning and behavioral needs of such children; ‘‘(G) focusing resources on teaching and learning while reducing paperwork and requirements that do not assist in improving educational results; and ‘‘(H) supporting the development and use of technology, including assistive technology devices and assistive tech nology services, to maximize accessibility for children with disabilities. ‘‘(6) While States, local educational agencies, and edu cational service agencies are primarily responsible for providing an education for all children with disabilities, it is in the national interest that the Federal Government have a sup porting role in assisting State and local efforts to educate children with disabilities in order to improve results for such children and to ensure equal protection of the law. ‘‘(7) A more equitable allocation of resources is essential for the Federal Government to meet its responsibility to provide an equal educational opportunity for all individuals. ‘‘(8) Parents and schools should be given expanded opportunities to resolve their disagreements in positive and constructive ways. ‘‘(9) Teachers, schools, local educational agencies, and States should be relieved of irrelevant and unnecessary paper work burdens that do not lead to improved educational out comes. ‘‘(10)(A) The Federal Government must be responsive to the growing needs of an increasingly diverse society. ‘‘(B) America’s ethnic profile is rapidly changing. In 2000, 1 of every 3 persons in the United States was a member of a minority group or was limited English proficient. ‘‘(C) Minority children comprise an increasing percentage of public school students. ‘‘(D) With such changing demographics, recruitment efforts for special education personnel should focus on increasing the participation of minorities in the teaching profession in order to provide appropriate role models with sufficient knowledge to address the special education needs of these students. ‘‘(11)(A) The limited English proficient population is the fastest growing in our Nation, and the growth is occurring in many parts of our Nation. ‘‘(B) Studies have documented apparent discrepancies in the levels of referral and placement of limited English proficient children in special education. ‘‘(C) Such discrepancies pose a special challenge for special education in the referral of, assessment of, and provision of services for, our Nation’s students from non English language backgrounds.

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