Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/2803

 118 STAT. 2773 PUBLIC LAW 108–446—DEC. 3, 2004 ‘‘(3) Teacher advancement initiatives for special education teachers that promote professional growth and emphasize mul tiple career paths (such as paths to becoming a career teacher, mentor teacher, or exemplary teacher) and pay differentiation. ‘‘(4) Developing and implementing mechanisms to assist local educational agencies and schools in effectively recruiting and retaining highly qualified special education teachers. ‘‘(5) Reforming tenure systems, implementing teacher testing for subject matter knowledge, and implementing teacher testing for State certification or licensing, consistent with title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965. ‘‘(6) Funding projects to promote reciprocity of teacher cer tification or licensing between or among States for special edu cation teachers, except that no reciprocity agreement developed under this paragraph or developed using funds provided under this subpart may lead to the weakening of any State teaching certification or licensing requirement. ‘‘(7) Assisting local educational agencies to serve children with disabilities through the development and use of proven, innovative strategies to deliver intensive professional develop ment programs that are both cost effective and easily accessible, such as strategies that involve delivery through the use of technology, peer networks, and distance learning. ‘‘(8) Developing, or assisting local educational agencies in developing, merit based performance systems, and strategies that provide differential and bonus pay for special education teachers. ‘‘(9) Supporting activities that ensure that teachers are able to use challenging State academic content standards and student academic achievement and functional standards, and State assessments for all children with disabilities, to improve instructional practices and improve the academic achievement of children with disabilities. ‘‘(10) When applicable, coordinating with, and expanding centers established under, section 2113(c)(18) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to benefit special edu cation teachers. ‘‘(c) CONTRACTS AND SUBGRANTS.—A State educational agency that receives a grant under this subpart— ‘‘(1) shall award contracts or subgrants to local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, parent training and information centers, or community parent resource centers, as appropriate, to carry out its State plan under this subpart; and ‘‘(2) may award contracts and subgrants to other public and private entities, including the lead agency under part C, to carry out the State plan. ‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.—A State educational agency that receives a grant under this subpart shall use— ‘‘(1) not less than 90 percent of the funds the State edu cational agency receives under the grant for any fiscal year for activities under subsection (a); and ‘‘(2) not more than 10 percent of the funds the State edu cational agency receives under the grant for any fiscal year for activities under subsection (b).

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