U.S. Department of Education: Promoting Educational Excellence for all Americans

Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Summary — February 1, 2010

 

Section III. B.  Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Overview

The Administration is committed to providing Americans with disabilities the opportunities and services they need to succeed in school, in the workplace, and in the community. The 2011 request funds a wide range of programs that can improve educational, employment, and independent living outcomes for people with disabilities.

The $12.8 billion request for Special Education programs focuses on improving educational and early intervention outcomes for children with disabilities. For the Grants to States program, the Administration is requesting $11.8 billion, an increase of $250 million over the 2010 appropriation, to maintain the Federal contribution toward meeting the excess cost of special education at about 17 percent of the national average per pupil expenditure (APPE), and provide an estimated average of $1,750 per student for about 6.7 million children ages 3 through 21. Funding for the Grants for Infants and Families and Preschool Grants programs would be maintained at their 2010 levels.

The $257.5 million request for Special Education National Activities would maintain level funding for a variety of technical assistance, dissemination, training, and other activities that assist States, local educational agencies, parents, and others in improving results for children with disabilities. Funding for the Technology and Media Services program would be $2.8 million less than the program's 2010 appropriation.

Funding for Special Olympics programs would be increased to $10.0 million, $1.9 million over the 2010 appropriation. The request also includes $10.0 million for a new program, Mentoring for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, which would support activities to increase the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in social relationships and other aspects of community life, including education and employment.

For Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research, the budget provides $3.6 billion to support comprehensive and coordinated vocational rehabilitation and independent living services for individuals with disabilities through research, training, demonstration, technical assistance, evaluation, and direct service programs. As part of the upcoming Workforce Investment Act (WIA) reauthorization, the Administration's 2011 request would consolidate several programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act to reduce duplication and improve program management and the provision of rehabilitation services. The budget includes proposals to consolidate vocational rehabilitation programs, independent living programs, and programs that support activities to improve program performance and the delivery of services.

The $3.1 billion request for the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) State Grants program reflects the Administration's proposal to consolidate the funds of the smaller VR-related programs under the Rehabilitation Act in order to reduce duplication of effort and administrative costs, streamline program administration at the Federal and local level, and improve accountability. An additional $56 million would be made available to the VR State Grants program from the consolidation of employment-related programs.

The budget provides $110 million for a new Grants for Independent Living program that would replace the Independent Living State Grants and Centers for Independent Living programs and would provide formula grants to States to support the provision of independent living services through centers for independent living. The request represents a $6.3 million increase over the 2010 levels for the programs being consolidated and would provide additional funding for States with significant unmet needs. In addition, a new $6.5 million National Activities to Improve Rehabilitation Services program would replace Demonstration and Training programs and consolidate the resources previously provided under the Evaluation and Program Improvement programs.

A new $25 million Supported Employment Extended Services for Youth with Significant Disabilities program would assist States in expanding supported employment opportunities for youth with significant disabilities as they transition from school to the workforce. The limited availability of resources for extended services is a major barrier to increasing supported employment opportunities for youth with significant disabilities who require ongoing support in order to work in the competitive labor market. Under this new program, State and local agencies would be required to work together to develop and implement innovative methods of expanding the availability of such services.

An increase of $2.7 million is requested for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research to conduct research related to vocational rehabilitation and rigorous evaluations of programs and activities authorized under the Rehabilitation Act. The budget also includes $30 million for a proposed Workforce Innovation Fund to develop innovative strategies for improving the delivery of services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities participating in programs authorized by the Workforce Investment Act.

Special Education State Grants

Grants to States

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $11,505.2 $11,505.2 $11,755.2
       
Estimated average Federal
   share per child
$1,713 $1,713 $1,750

The Grants to States program, which is authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), makes formula grants that help States pay the additional costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities aged 3 through 21 years. The request would increase program spending by $250 million, or 2.2 percent, over the 2010 level. That would maintain the Federal contribution toward meeting the excess cost of special education at about 17 percent of the national average per pupil expenditure and provide a per-child average of $1,750 for an estimated 6,718,000 children with disabilities.

Under IDEA, States are required to provide a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities. Services are provided in accordance with individualized education programs that are developed by teams that include the child's parents; a special educator; a representative of the local educational agency; a regular educator, if appropriate; and others. In addition, services must be provided—to the maximum extent appropriate—in the least restrictive environment, which for most children means in classes with children who are not disabled. Under IDEA, children with disabilities must be included in general State and district-wide assessments, including the assessments required under ESEA. States must provide appropriate accommodations, where necessary, to enable children with disabilities to participate in these assessments, or alternate assessments for those children who cannot participate in regular assessments.

The request also includes $25.0 million that would be reserved for technical assistance to improve the capacity of States to meet the data collection requirements of the IDEA.

Preschool Grants

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $374.1 $374.1 $374.1

This program provides formula grants to help States make a free appropriate public education available to all children with disabilities ages 3 through 5. The program supplements funds provided under the Grants to States program and helps to ensure that young children with disabilities are ready to learn when they enter school. The request would provide an estimated $527 per child for approximately 710,400 children.

Grants for Infants and Families

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $439.4 $439.4 $439.4

This program makes formula grants to help States implement statewide systems of early intervention services for all eligible children with disabilities from birth through age 2 and their families. The Grants for Infants and Families program helps State and local agencies identify and serve children with disabilities early in life when interventions can be most effective in improving educational outcomes. The request would provide support to 57 State agencies serving approximately 352,000 infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

Special Education National Activities

Special Education National Activities programs support State efforts to improve early intervention and educational results for children with disabilities. The total request for National Activities is $257.5 million.

State Personnel Development

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $48.0 $48.0 $48.0

This program provides competitive grants to help States reform and enhance their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in the areas of early intervention, educational, and transition services. The request would support continuation awards to approximately 37 States and new awards to 9 States aimed at improving results for children through the delivery of high quality instruction and the recruitment and retention of highly qualified personnel.

Technical Assistance and Dissemination

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $48.5 $49.5 $49.5

This program funds competitive grants for technical assistance and dissemination of materials based on knowledge gained through research and practice. This request is in addition to the separate $25.0 million to be set aside under the Grants to States program to help States meet data collection requirements. The request includes about $11.8 million for new technical assistance, dissemination, and model projects, and $37.7 million for continuation projects.

Personnel Preparation

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $90.7 $90.7 $90.7

This program helps ensure that there are adequate numbers of personnel with the skills and knowledge necessary to help children with disabilities succeed educationally. Program activities focus both on meeting the demand for personnel to serve children with disabilities and improving the qualifications of these personnel, with particular emphasis on incorporating knowledge gained from research and practice into training programs. The Department is required to support training for leadership personnel and personnel who work with children with low-incidence disabilities, at least one activity in the broadly defined area of personnel development, and enhanced support for beginning special educators. At the request level, $25.7 million would be available for new competitive grants and $65.0 million for continuation awards.

Parent Information Centers

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $27.0 $28.0 $28.0

Parent Information Centers provide parents with the training and information they need to work with professionals in meeting the early intervention and special education needs of their children with disabilities. The request would support new competitive grants and continuation awards for about 88 centers as well as awards to provide technical assistance to the centers.

Technology and Media Services

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $38.6 $44.0 $41.2

This program makes competitive awards for research, development, and other activities that promote the use of technology, including universal design features, in providing special education and early intervention services. Funds also support media-related activities, such as providing video description and captioning of films and television appropriate for use in classrooms for individuals with visual and hearing impairments and increasing the availability of textbooks in accessible formats for individuals with visual impairments and other print disabilities. Funding used for earmarked projects in 2010 would be used for new competitive grants in 2011.

Special Olympics Education Programs

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $8.1 $8.1 $10.0

This program supports the expansion of Special Olympics and the design and implementation of Special Olympics education programs. The request includes funds to support Project UNIFY, an education program designed to develop teamwork skills and increase awareness and social acceptance of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Mentoring for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $10.0

Subject to the enactment of the Best Buddies Empowerment Act of 2009, this program would support activities to increase the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in social relationships and other aspects of community life, including education and employment, within the United States.

Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) State Grants

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $2,974.6 $3,084.7 $3,141.5

This program, funded through a combination of mandatory and discretionary appropriations, provides formula grants to State vocational rehabilitation agencies to help individuals with disabilities become gainfully employed. A wide range of services are provided each year to over 1 million individuals with disabilities, including vocational evaluation, counseling and guidance, work adjustment, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental impairments, education and vocational training, job placement, and post-employment services. States that are unable to serve all eligible individuals with disabilities who apply must give priority to individuals with the most significant disabilities. Services are provided according to an individualized plan for employment. In 2009, the VR program helped over 205,000 individuals with disabilities—92 percent with significant disabilities—achieve employment outcomes.

The request for the VR State Grants program reflects the Administration's proposal to consolidate the funds of the smaller VR-related programs and eliminate their separate funding authorities under the Rehabilitation Act in order to reduce duplication of effort and administrative costs, streamline program administration at the Federal and local level, and improve accountability. An additional $56.3 million would be made available to the VR State Grants program from the consolidation of employment-related programs, including Supported Employment State Grants, Projects with Industry, and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, and the funds currently provided to State VR agencies to support in-service training for agency personnel under the Training program. The request also includes $38 million for grants to Indian tribes.

Client Assistance State Grants

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $11.6 $12.3 $12.3

This program makes formula grants to States for activities to inform and advise clients of benefits available to them under the Rehabilitation Act, to assist them in their relationships with service providers, and to ensure the protection of their rights under the Act. The request would support advocacy services for approximately 65,045 individuals with disabilities.

Training

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $37.8 $37.8 $33.3

The Training program makes competitive grants to State and other public or nonprofit agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher education, to help ensure that personnel with adequate skills are available to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. The request includes a net reduction of $4.5 million from the fiscal year 2010 appropriation, reflecting the consolidation of $5.7 million for the In-Service Training program with the VR State Grants program and an increase of $1.2 million to the Training program for two training activities previously supported under the Demonstration and Training programs.

National Activities to Improve Rehabilitation Services

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $6.5

This new program would support national activities that improve the administration and effectiveness of programs and services authorized under the Act or further the purposes of the Act in promoting the employment and independence of individuals with disabilities in the community. Funds would support technical assistance and projects designed to improve program performance and the delivery of vocational rehabilitation and independent living services under the Rehabilitation Act.

Supported Employment Extended Services for Youth
with Significant Disabilities

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $25.0

Grants would be awarded on a competitive basis to assist States in expanding supported employment opportunities for youth with significant disabilities as they transition from school to the workforce. Funds would maintain such individuals in supported employment after receiving services provided by the VR State Grants program.

Independent Living
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
Grants for Independent Living $110.0
Independent Living State Grants $23.5 $23.5
Centers for Independent Living 77.3 80.3
Services for Older Blind Individuals 34.2 34.2 34.2
Total
134.9

137.9

144.2

The independent living programs provide services to individuals with disabilities to maximize their independence and productivity and to help them integrate into the mainstream of American society. The budget provides $110 million for a new Grants for Independent Living program that replaces the Independent Living State Grants and Centers for Independent Living programs. The consolidated program would provide formula grants to States to support the provision of independent living services through centers for independent living and hold States accountable for implementing effective service systems. The request represents a $6.3 million increase over the 2010 levels for the programs being consolidated and would provide additional funding for States with significant unmet needs.

The formula-based Services for Older Blind Individuals program assists individuals aged 55 or older whose severe visual impairments make competitive employment difficult to obtain, but for whom independent living goals are feasible. At the requested level, program funds would directly support 78 designated State units under the Grants for Independent Living program and 56 grantees under the Services for Older Blind Individuals program.

Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $17.1 $18.1 $18.1

This formula grant program funds systems in each State to protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities, helping them to pursue legal and administrative remedies to secure their rights under Federal law. The PAIR systems also provide information on, and referrals to, programs and services for individuals with disabilities. The request would support advocacy services to approximately 63,064 individuals with disabilities.

Recreational Programs

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $2.5 $2.5 $2.5

This program supports projects that provide recreation and related activities for individuals with disabilities to aid in their employment, mobility, independence, socialization, and community integration. The request would fund 16 new projects and 10 ongoing projects.

National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $107.7 $109.2 $111.9

The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) helps improve the lives of persons of all ages with disabilities through a comprehensive and coordinated program of research, demonstration projects, and related activities, including training of persons who provide rehabilitation services or conduct rehabilitation research. NIDRR awards discretionary grants that support the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC); Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTC); Model Systems projects for Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Burn Injury; field-initiated research and development projects; and a wide range of additional research, demonstration, and training projects that address diverse issues in rehabilitation, including ways to improve educational, employment, and independent living opportunities for persons with disabilities.

The $2.7 million increase in 2011 would support research projects related to vocational rehabilitation and rigorous evaluations of programs and activities authorized under the Rehabilitation Act.

Workforce Innovation Fund

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $30.0

Funding for this activity would be combined with $30 million requested under Adult Education National Leadership Activities to support a partnership with the Department of Labor to encourage innovation and support projects to identify and validate effective strategies for improving the delivery of services and outcomes for beneficiaries under programs authorized by the Workforce Investment Act. Funds would be awarded competitively and rigorous evaluations would be conducted in order to help build evidence of what works and enable replication of effective strategies to improve services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.

Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $8.4 $9.2 $9.2

This program serves individuals who are deaf-blind, their families, and service providers through a national headquarters center with a residential training and rehabilitation facility and a network of 10 regional offices that provide referral, counseling, training, and technical assistance. At the request level, the Center would provide direct services for approximately 122 clients in its residential training and rehabilitation program and serve an estimated 1,500 individuals, 500 families, and 1,050 agencies through its regional offices.

Assistive Technology

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
B.A. in millions $31.0 $31.0 $31.0

Assistive Technology (AT) programs support grants to States to increase access to and funding for assistive technology devices and services for individuals with disabilities of all ages. The request includes $25.7 million for the AT State grant program, $4.3 million for the Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology program, and $1.0 million for technical assistance required under the AT Act's National Activities authority.

Special Institutions for Persons with Disabilities
(B.A. in millions)

  2009 2010 2011
Request
 
American Printing House
  for the Blind (APH)
$22.6 $24.6 $24.6
National Technical Institute
  for the Deaf (NTID)
64.2 68.4 64.7
Gallaudet University 124.0 123.0 118.0
Total
210.8

216.0

207.3

The American Printing House for the Blind provides specially manufactured education materials for students who are visually impaired, offers advisory services for consumers and educational agencies, and conducts applied research related to the development of new products. At the request level, APH would provide free educational materials to approximately 61,000 persons with visual impairments at an average per student allotment of $313, continue funding for initiatives to improve its technical assistance and outreach services, and support a variety of continuing and new research projects.

The National Technical Institute for the Deaf provides postsecondary technical education and training for students who are deaf as well as graduate education and interpreter training for persons who are deaf or hearing. NTID also conducts research and provides training related to the education and employment of individuals who are deaf. The request would support education and training for approximately 1,261 undergraduate and technical students, 108 graduate students, and 141 interpreters for persons who are deaf. The request maintains the 2010 level for operations and reduces construction funding to provide a total of $1.6 million for an institution-wide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning project.

Gallaudet University offers undergraduate, continuing education, and graduate programs for persons who are deaf and hearing. Gallaudet also maintains and operates the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD). The request provides $118.0 million for operations, including funds for the Endowment Grant program. No funds are requested for construction, reflecting the completion of the soil stabilization project related to the MSSD dormitories. The request would help Gallaudet serve approximately 1,740 undergraduate and graduate students and 395 elementary and secondary education students in the 2010-11 school year.

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