Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/2807

 118 STAT. 2777 PUBLIC LAW 108–446—DEC. 3, 2004 improved collaboration between general educators, special education teachers, and related services personnel. ‘‘(F) Supporting institutions of higher education with minority enrollments of not less than 25 percent for the purpose of preparing personnel to work with children with disabilities. ‘‘(G) Developing and improving programs to train spe cial education teachers to develop an expertise in autism spectrum disorders. ‘‘(H) Providing continuous personnel preparation, training, and professional development designed to provide support and improve the qualifications of personnel who provide related services to children with disabilities, including to enable such personnel to obtain advanced degrees. ‘‘(3) ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR BEGINNING SPECIAL EDU CATORS.—In carrying out paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall support not less than 1 of the following activities: ‘‘(A) Enhancing and restructuring existing programs or developing preservice teacher education programs to prepare special education teachers, at colleges or depart ments of education within institutions of higher education, by incorporating an extended (such as an additional 5th year) clinical learning opportunity, field experience, or supervised practicum into such programs. ‘‘(B) Creating or supporting teacher faculty partner ships (such as professional development schools) that— ‘‘(i) consist of not less than— ‘‘(I) 1 or more institutions of higher education with special education personnel preparation pro grams; ‘‘(II) 1 or more local educational agencies that serve high numbers or percentages of low income students; or ‘‘(III) 1 or more elementary schools or sec ondary schools, particularly schools that have failed to make adequate yearly progress on the basis, in whole and in part, of the assessment results of the disaggregated subgroup of students with disabilities; ‘‘(ii) may include other entities eligible for assist ance under this part; and ‘‘(iii) provide— ‘‘(I) high quality mentoring and induction opportunities with ongoing support for beginning special education teachers; or ‘‘(II) inservice professional development to beginning and veteran special education teachers through the ongoing exchange of information and instructional strategies with faculty. ‘‘(c) LOW INCIDENCE DISABILITIES; AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this section, the Sec retary shall support activities, consistent with the objectives described in subsection (a), that benefit children with low incidence disabilities.

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