Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities—Interdisciplinary Preparation in Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services for Personnel Serving Children With Disabilities Who Have High-Intensity Need

Overview

<p>The purposes of this program are to (1) help address State-identified needs for personnel preparation in special education, early intervention, related services, and regular education to work with children, including infants, toddlers, and youth with disabilities; and (2) ensure that those personnel have the necessary skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been determined through scientifically based research, to be successful in serving those children.</p> <p><span style="font-size:1em">This competition includes one absolute priority and two competitive preference priorities.</span></p> <p><em><strong>Absolute Priority</strong></em>: Interdisciplinary Preparation in Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services for Personnel Serving Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs. </p> <p><span style="font-size:1em">The purpose of this priority is to increase the number and improve the quality of personnel who are fully credentialed to serve children, including infants, toddlers, and youth with disabilities who have highintensity needs. Under this priority, the Department will fund high-quality interdisciplinary 2 projects that prepare special education, early intervention, and related services 3 personnel at the master’s degree, educational specialist degree, or clinical doctoral degree levels for professional practice in a variety of education settings, including natural environments (the home and community settings in which children with and without disabilities participate), early learning programs, classrooms, schools, and distance learning environments. The competition will also prepare personnel who have the knowledge and skills to support each child with a disability in meeting high expectations and to partner with other providers, families, and administrators in meaningful and effective collaborations. Personnel preparation degree programs that prepare all scholars to be dually certified can qualify under this priority by partnering with at least one additional graduate degree program in related services.</span></p> <p><strong>Focus Areas</strong></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>          A.</strong> Preparing Personnel to Serve Infants, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs; and</p> <p><strong>          B.</strong> Preparing Personnel to Serve School-Age Children with Disabilities who have High-Intensity Needs.</p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:1em">Competitive Preference Priorities</span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:1em"></span></strong>          <strong> 1.</strong> Applications from New Potential Grantees</p> <p>         <strong>  2.</strong>  Preparing Nontraditional Scholars</p> <p><em><strong><span><em>*Note. Cost-sharing or matching is not required for this competition.</em></span><br></strong></em></p> <p></p>