Section 1454 (b)
(b) Other activities
A State educational agency that receives a grant under this part shall use the grant funds to support activities in accordance with the State’s plan described in section 1453 of this title, including 1 or more of the following:
- (1) Reforming special education and regular education teacher certification (including recertification) or licensing requirements to ensure that—
- (A) special education and regular education teachers have—
- (i) the training and information necessary to address the full range of needs of children with disabilities across disability categories; and
- (ii) the necessary subject matter knowledge and teaching skills in the academic subjects that the teachers teach;
- (B) special education and regular education teacher certification (including recertification) or licensing requirements are aligned with challenging State academic content standards; and
- (C) special education and regular education teachers have the subject matter knowledge and teaching skills, including technology literacy, necessary to help students with disabilities meet challenging State student academic achievement and functional standards.
- (2) Programs that establish, expand, or improve alternative routes for State certification of special education teachers for individuals with a baccalaureate or master’s degree who meet the qualifications described in section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title, including mid-career professionals from other occupations, paraprofessionals, and recent college or university graduates with records of academic distinction who demonstrate the potential to become highly effective special education teachers.
- (3) Teacher advancement initiatives for special education teachers that promote professional growth and emphasize multiple 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 special education teachers who meet the qualifications described in section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title.
- (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 [20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.].
- (6) Funding projects to promote reciprocity of teacher certification or licensing between or among States for special education teachers, except that no reciprocity agreement developed under this paragraph or developed using funds provided under this part 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 development 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 6613(c)(18) of this title (as such section was in effect on the day before December 10, 2015) to benefit special education teachers.
Severe Discrepancy
Last modified on November 7, 2019