FY 1998 Budget Summary

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C. SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES

Page Top Overview

The Administration is committed to promoting the empowerment and independence of Americans with disabilities. The 1998 budget request gives priority to programs that expand opportunities for persons with disabilities and improve education and employment outcomes. These include programs providing direct services and those supporting systems change, research, demonstration, outreach, technical assistance, and training activities.

The budget includes a total of $4.2 billion for Special Education programs, an increase of $174 million or 4.3 percent over the 1997 level. Most of this increase is requested for Special Education Grants to States and Preschool Grants to assist States in carrying out their responsibility to provide children with disabilities with a free appropriate public education. The authorities for all other programs funded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) expired at the end of fiscal year 1995. The Department intends to propose legislation to improve and strengthen the Act based on more than 20 years of experience. Among other things, the Department is developing legislation that would consolidate the 14 Special Purpose Fund programs into 5 new authorities that would provide a better structure for carrying out discretionary grant programs that support State special education and early intervention activities.

For Rehabilitation Services and Disability Research, the budget includes $2.6 billion, an increase of $73.9 million or 2.9 percent over the 1997 level. The budget provides a 3.3 percent increase for Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants to help State agencies meet the increased demand for VR services. Increases are also proposed for other key programs that provide direct services to assist individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment and pursuing independent living goals. All of the programs in this account, except for Technology Assistance, are funded under authorities that expire at the end of fiscal year 1997. The Administration will be proposing new authorizing legislation.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Page Top Special Education Grants to States



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$2,323.8 $3,107.5 $3,248.8

Children ages 3 through 21 Number served (thousands)

5,629 5,798 5,899

Over the past two decades States have made tremendous strides in providing children with disabilities with access to an appropriate public education. In 1975, it was estimated that as many as one million children with disabilities were excluded from our public schools, and many more received inadequate or inappropriate services. Today, as a result of Federal legislation, individuals who previously would have been institutionalized and denied educational services are now completing secondary school, living independently, and working in competitive employment.

However, while there has been tremendous progress, significant challenges remain. Too many students are failing courses and dropping out of school, and enrollment in postsecondary education is still too low. To assist States in improving results for children with disabilities, the Administration will be proposing a number of changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These changes would promote accountability for performance and better focus resources on—and improve the quality of—teaching and learning.

The Grants to States program makes formula grants that help States pay the excess costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities, aged 3 through 21 years. For 1998, the Department is requesting $3.2 billion for Grants to States, an increase of $141 million or 4.5 percent over the 34-percent increase in fiscal year 1997. The request would help States cover increases in costs attributable to serving additional children, while maintaining the overall Federal share of the excess costs of serving children with disabilities at 8 percent. This funding is an important resource to State and local educational agencies in carrying out their constitutionally derived responsibilities to provide all children with disabilities with an appropriate public education. Within the amount requested for this program, funds would be made available to conduct a national evaluation of the State grant programs.

Page Top Preschool Grants



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$360.4 $360.4 $374.8

Children ages 3 through 5 Number served (thousands)

549 577 600

Per child allocation

$656 $625 $625

The Preschool Grants program provides formula grants to States as an incentive to make a free, appropriate public education available to all children with disabilities ages 3 through 5 and to provide a minimum level of funding to serve these children. The program helps to ensure that young children with disabilities are ready to learn when they enter school. All States currently are serving children with disabilities in this age group. The 1998 request includes an increase of $14.4 million, or 4 percent, to serve an estimated 23,000 additional children and maintain the Federal share per child at $625.

Page Top Grants for Infants and Families



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$315.8 $315.8 $324.0

The Grants for Infants and Families program makes formula grants to States to help them implement statewide systems to make available early intervention services to all eligible children with disabilities, from birth through age 2, and their families. States also may serve infants and toddlers who would be at risk of substantial developmental delays, such as infants with low birth weights or drug-exposed babies, if early intervention services are not provided. This is the only Federal program focused exclusively on children with disabilities from birth through age 2, and it plays a major role in improving the school readiness of young children who are likely to experience poor educational outcomes because of disability. State program data indicate that large numbers of children served by this program enter school not needing special education services or requiring less intensive services. States served 174,288 children in 1996, an increase of 5.5 percent over the number served in 1995.

The 1998 request would provide an increase of $8.2 million, or 2.6 percent above the 1997 level, to assist States in meeting the rising costs of administering their statewide systems of early intervention services.

Page Top Program Support and Improvement

(BA in millions)


1996

1997
1998
Request

Research to Practice

$99.6

State Improvement

35.2

Professional Development

82.1

Parent Training and Information

15.5

Technology Development and Educational Media Services

30.0

Deaf-blindness

$12.8 $12.8

Serious Emotional Disturbance

4.1 4.1

Severe Disabilities

10.0 10.0

Early Childhood Education

25.1 25.1

Secondary and Transitional Services

24.0 24.0

Postsecondary Education

8.8 8.8

Innovation and Development

14.0 16.0

Media and Captioning Services

19.1 20.0

Technology Applications

10.0 10.0

Special Studies

3.8 3.8

Personnel Development

91.3 93.3

Parent Training

13.5 15.5

Clearinghouses

2.0 2.0

Regional Resource Centers

6.6 6.6

Total

245.4 252.3 262.5

The request for Program Support and Improvement activities is based on legislation to be proposed that would consolidate the 14 IDEA authorities currently funded under Special Purpose Funds into 5 new authorities. These consolidated authorities would provide a streamlined and coherent structure for carrying out activities designed to provide essential support to the States in their efforts to provide equal educational opportunity to children with disabilities. The request includes $262.5 million for these activities, $10.2 million more than provided in 1997 for the 14 programs proposed for consolidation. The authorizations for these programs expired at the end of fiscal year 1995. While reauthorization proposals were developed by the Administration and both houses of Congress, no legislation was enacted during the 104th Congress. The Administration’s new consolidation proposal is expected to include the following authorities:

Research to Practice. The budget includes $99.6 million for Research to Practice activities that would develop and apply knowledge to improve educational and early intervention results for children with disabilities. These activities would be targeted on three areas: developing new knowledge through research; applying knowledge to create useful practices through demonstrations; and making knowledge available through outreach, technical assistance, and dissemination.

Priorities would be set through a broad-based planning process that would use the input of policy-makers, administrators, teachers, parents, individuals with disabilities, and researchers to develop a comprehensive, long-range agenda. This new approach to planning would reduce overlap, gaps, and fragmentation inherent in the separate plans and authorizations for each of the expired categorical programs.

About $70.1 million would be used to cover the continuation costs of projects funded under expired authorities. About $29.5 million would be available for new activities.

State Improvement. In recognition of the critical role that States play in implementing IDEA, the new State Improvement program would provide flexible support for State agencies to carry out their plans for meeting their performance goals and for initiating and directing reform.

At least half of the funds provided to each State would be reserved for personnel preparation. The remaining funds would be used to carry out the State’s strategies for improving educational results, including strategies for holding school districts and schools accountable for the educational progress of children with disabilities, providing high-quality technical assistance to school districts and schools to improve results for children with disabilities in the context of comprehensive technical assistance efforts, and changing State policies and procedures to address systemic barriers to improving results for students with disabilities.

Professional Development. This program would support awards in three areas: preparing personnel to serve children with disabilities, preparing leadership personnel, and national activities such as developing models for teacher preparation. The overall goal of the program is to help ensure that there are adequate numbers of personnel with the skills and knowledge of the best practices to help children with disabilities achieve high quality results. For this reason the program would focus on both meeting the demand for personnel to serve children with disabilities and improving the quality of these personnel.

While the proposed $82.1 million level of funding for the new Professional Development program is $11.2 million less than the $93.3 million appropriated in 1997 under the expired authority for Personnel Development, the overall level of support for personnel training will be increased by the requirement that States use at least half ($12.6 million) of their State Improvement grants for personnel preparation and related activities.

The 1998 request for Professional Development includes about $22.1 million for new projects and peer review, and $60 million for continuation projects.

Parent Training and Information. The $15.5 million request would support at least one center in each State to provide about 200,000 parents each year with the training and information they need to participate effectively with professionals in meeting the early intervention and special education needs of their children with disabilities. Funds would support approximately 69 projects, including $11.1 million for continuations and $4.4 million for new awards.

Technology Development and Educational Media Services. The $30 million requested would support activities formerly funded under the Media and Captioning Services and Technology Applications programs. Funds would be used for a variety of media-related purposes, such as captioning films and television for individuals with hearing impairments and video description and recording activities for individuals with visual impairments. Funds also would be used for research, development, and other activities to advance the application of new and emerging technologies in providing special education and early intervention services.

REHABILITATION SERVICES AND DISABILITY RESEARCH

Page Top Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) State Grants



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$2,114.3 $2,176.0 $2,246.9

The 1998 request provides an increase of $70.9 million, or 3.3 percent over the 1997 level, to assist State VR agencies in meeting the current demand for VR services and to offset the increased costs of providing VR services to a more severely disabled population. The requested increase is $5.6 million more than necessary to satisfy the statutory requirement to increase funding by at least the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index. Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants provide funds to State vocational rehabilitation agencies to help individuals with disabilities become gainfully employed. Funds are distributed on the basis of a formula that takes into account population and per capita income. The request includes $12.4 million for grants to Indian tribes, an increase of $360,000 over the 1997 level and $1.1 million more than the minimum statutory set-aside.

A wide range of services is 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. In the event that services cannot be provided to all eligible individuals with disabilities who apply, States must give priority to applicants with the most severe disabilities. Services are provided according to an individualized written rehabilitation program, which must be developed jointly by the counselor and the individual. Each year, the VR program successfully rehabilitates approximately 200,000 individuals with disabilities, of which about 86 percent enter the competitive labor market or become self-employed. Approximately 76 percent of the individuals served have severe disabilities.

Page Top Client Assistance State Grants



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$10.1 $10.4 $10.7

The 1998 request includes a $322,000 or 3.1 percent increase to help States maintain their present level of services provided under this program, which makes formula grants to States for activities to inform and advise clients of benefits available to them under the Rehabilitation Act and to assist them in their relationships with service providers, including remedies to ensure the protection of their rights under the Act.

Page Top Training



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$39.6 $39.6 $39.6

The budget includes $39.6 million for this program, which makes grants to States and public or other nonprofit agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher education, to help ensure that adequate skilled personnel are available to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. The request includes about $30.4 million for continuations.

Page Top Special Demonstration Programs



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$24.9 $18.9 $16.9

This program provides discretionary grants to projects that develop innovative methods, including supported employment, to improve vocational outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The Department is proposing a reduction of $2 million for this activity in order to redirect funds to the Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants program, which supports direct services, and to Program Improvement to support model demonstrations that promote systems change. The request would provide approximately $6.8 million for new awards, for which the Department would give competitive preference to projects that propose to serve individuals in areas designated as empowerment zones or enterprise communities. In addition, the requested funds would provide approximately $9.5 million for continuation projects.

Page Top Migratory Workers



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$1.4 $1.9 $2.4

This program awards competitive grants to State vocational rehabilitation agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide rehabilitation services to migratory workers with disabilities. States that receive funding under this program are consistently more aggressive in serving this population than those that do not. For this reason, the request includes a $500,000 increase to support 4 new projects in addition to 11 ongoing projects.

Page Top Recreational Programs



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$2.6 $2.6 $2.6

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 $2.6 million request would support 31 projects, including 9 new projects and 22 continuations. Because the Federal contribution to each program declines over the project period, the Department is able to initiate new recreational programs each year with no increase in Federal funds.

Page Top Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$7.5 $7.7 $7.9

The $7.9 million request would support systems in each State to protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of individuals with disabilities. These protection and advocacy systems pursue legal and administrative remedies to ensure the protection of the rights of individuals with disabilities under Federal law and provide information on and referrals to programs and services for individuals with disabilities.

Page Top Projects with Industry



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$22.1 $22.1 $22.1

These projects provide training and experience for individuals with disabilities in realistic work settings to prepare them for employment and advancement in the competitive labor market. PWI promotes the involvement of business through Business Advisory Councils that participate in project policymaking and provide advice on available jobs and training requirements. Since 1990, PWI has annually placed an average of 12,500 individuals with disabilities in competitive employment. Most of the individuals served through this program are considered difficult to place due to severe disability or extended unemployment (at least 6 months at time of project entry). The $22.1 million request would support approximately 100 new and 5 continuation awards.

Page Top SupportedEmploymentStateGrants



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$38.2 $38.2 $38.2

This program provides formula grants to assist States in developing collaborative programs with appropriate public and private nonprofit organizations to offer supported employment services for individuals with the most severe disabilities. Supported employment placements are achieved by augmenting short-term vocational rehabilitation services with ongoing support provided by other public or non-profit organizations.

This program served about 37,300 individuals in fiscal year 1996, while about 38,200 individuals received similar services that year through the VR State Grants program. While recognizing that supported employment is an important approach to promoting competitive employment for individuals with the most severe disabilities, the Department’s position is that additional funds for this purpose should be provided through the VR State Grants program.

Page Top Independent Living

(BA in millions)


1996

1997
1998
Request

State Grants

$21.9 $21.9 $21.9

Centers for Independent Living

41.7 42.9 44.2

Services for Older Blind Individuals

9.0 10.0 10.0

Total

72.6 74.8 76.1

The three independent living programs provide services to individuals with disabilities to maximize their independence and productivity. The State Grants program awards formula grants to States to provide and improve independent living services and to support the operation of centers for independent living. The Centers for Independent Living program makes competitive grants to support a network of consumer-controlled, nonresidential, community-based centers that provide a broad range of independent living services. The Services for Older Blind Individuals program assists individuals aged 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain, but for whom independent living goals are feasible.

The $76.1 million request would provide an increase of $1.3 million or 3.1 percent for the Centers for Independent Living program, which would trigger an increase in the minimum State allotment and support the funding of new centers in unserved or underserved areas.

Page Top Program Improvement



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$2.4 $3.9

This program supports technical assistance to States to improve the operation of the VR State Grants program, the provision of services to individuals with disabilities, and other program improvement activities. Funds also are used to improve accountability and help the Department address critical areas of national significance in achieving the purposes of the Rehabilitation Act. The $3.9 million request, an increase of $1.5 million or 63 percent over the 1997 level, would support model demonstrations designed to increase the capacity of employment and employment training programs to serve individuals with disabilities who are not currently served by the VR State Grants program.

Page Top Evaluation



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$1.6 $1.6 $1.6

These funds are used to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of programs authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The request would support two new program evaluations, as well as further analysis of data from the longitudinal study of the VR State Grants program and efforts to disseminate and utilize study findings.

Page Top Helen Keller National Center



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$7.1 $7.3 $7.5

The request includes a $191,000 or 2.6 percent increase to enable the Center to keep pace with the increased costs of serving individuals with deaf-blindness at its residential center, training professionals and allied personnel, and providing services that enhance the ability of individuals with deaf-blindness to live independently in their home communities.

Page Top National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$70.0 $70.0 $71.0

The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) provides a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the administration and conduct of research, demonstration projects, and related activities dealing with the rehabilitation of persons of all ages with disabilities, including training of persons who provide rehabilitation services or who conduct rehabilitation research.

NIDRR awards discretionary grants for support of rehabilitation research and training centers, rehabilitation engineering research centers, and research and demonstration projects that address diverse issues in rehabilitation, including the causes and consequences of disability and ways to improve educational, employment, and independent living opportunities for persons with disabilities. Grants or contracts are also awarded for utilization and dissemination of research results and for training.

The 1998 request would provide approximately $43 million for continuations, including 29 research centers and 10 Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers. Another$28 million would be used for new activities, including 27 new research centers and 30 new Field-Initiated Research projects.

Page Top Assistive Technology



1996

1997
1998
Request

BA in millions

$36.1 $36.1 $36.1

This program provides discretionary grants to help States develop and implement consumer-responsive, comprehensive statewide programs that facilitate the provision of assistive technology devices and services to individuals with disabilities. The $36.1 million request would provide increases for States with an initial extension grant and States in the first three years of a second extension grant.

Page Top Special Institutions for Individuals with Disabilities

(BA in millions)


1996

1997
1998 Request

American Printing House for the Blind

$6.7 $6.7 $6.7

National Technical Institute for the Deaf

42.2 43.0 43.0

Gallaudet University

77.6 79.2 79.2

Total

126.5 128.9 128.9

American Printing House for the Blind. The $6.7 million request would maintain funding for APH at the 1997 level. The Louisville, Kentucky-based Printing House provides special education materials for students who are blind, offers advisory services for consumers, and conducts research. Each State receives an allotment that can be used to purchase materials from the Printing House. The appropriation represented approximately 34 percent of APH’s total budget in 1996.

National Technical Institute for the Deaf. The $43.0 million request would maintain the 1997 level of Federal support for operations of the Institute, which provides postsecondary technical education and training for students who are deaf. The request provides funding for NTID in one line item to give the Institute the flexibility to direct funding to its highest priorities. NTID also may use current-year program funds for the endowment grant program. No funds are requested for construction. In 1996, the Federal appropriation accounted for about 82 percent of the budget for the Institute, which is based in Rochester, New York.

Gallaudet University. Gallaudet is a private, nonprofit liberal arts institution in Washington, D.C., offering undergraduate and continuing education programs for persons who are deaf, and graduate programs for persons who are deaf or hearing. Gallaudet also maintains and operates the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and Model Secondary School for the Deaf. The $79.2 million request would maintain the 1997 level of support for Gallaudet. The request provides funding for Gallaudet in one line item to give the University the flexibility to determine the appropriate allocation of funds among the elementary, secondary, and university-level programs. Gallaudet also may use current-year program funds for its endowment grant program. No funds are requested for construction. In 1996, the Federal appropriation provided approximately 72 percent of the University's total funding.


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Direct any questions to Martha Jacobs, Budget Service

last update: Feb. 5, 1997