20 U.S.C. § 1472 — Community parent resource centers

Page 1016 TITLE 20—EDUCATION § 1472 (G) participate in school reform activities; (5) in States where the State elects to con- tract with the parent training and information center, contract with State educational agen- cies to provide, consistent with subparagraphs (B) and (D) of section 1415(e)(2) of this title, in- dividuals who meet with parents to explain the mediation process to the parents; (6) assist parents in resolving disputes in the most expeditious and effective way possible, including encouraging the use, and explaining the benefits, of alternative methods of dispute resolution, such as the mediation process de- scribed in section 1415(e) of this title; (7) assist parents and students with disabil- ities to understand their rights and respon- sibilities under this chapter, including those under section 1415(m) of this title upon the student’s reaching the age of majority (as ap- propriate under State law); (8) assist parents to understand the avail- ability of, and how to effectively use, proce- dural safeguards under this chapter, including the resolution session described in section 1415(e) of this title; (9) assist parents in understanding, pre- paring for, and participating in, the process described in section 1415(f)(1)(B) of this title; (10) establish cooperative partnerships with community parent resource centers funded under section 1472 of this title; (11) network with appropriate clearing- houses, including organizations conducting national dissemination activities under sec- tion 1463 of this title and the Institute of Edu- cation Sciences, and with other national, State, and local organizations and agencies, such as protection and advocacy agencies, that serve parents and families of children with the full range of disabilities described in section 1401(3) of this title; and (12) annually report to the Secretary on— (A) the number and demographics of par- ents to whom the center provided informa- tion and training in the most recently con- cluded fiscal year; (B) the effectiveness of strategies used to reach and serve parents, including under- served parents of children with disabilities; and (C) the number of parents served who have resolved disputes through alternative meth- ods of dispute resolution. (c) Optional activities A parent training and information center that receives assistance under this section may pro- vide information to teachers and other profes- sionals to assist the teachers and professionals in improving results for children with disabil- ities. (d) Application requirements Each application for assistance under this sec- tion shall identify with specificity the special efforts that the parent organization will under- take— (1) to ensure that the needs for training and information of underserved parents of children with disabilities in the area to be served are effectively met; and (2) to work with community based organiza- tions, including community based organiza- tions that work with low-income parents and parents of limited English proficient children. (e) Distribution of funds (1) In general The Secretary shall— (A) make not less than 1 award to a parent organization in each State for a parent training and information center that is des- ignated as the statewide parent training and information center; or (B) in the case of a large State, make awards to multiple parent training and in- formation centers, but only if the centers demonstrate that coordinated services and supports will occur among the multiple cen- ters. (2) Selection requirement The Secretary shall select among applica- tions submitted by parent organizations in a State in a manner that ensures the most effec- tive assistance to parents, including parents in urban and rural areas, in the State. (f) Quarterly review (1) Meetings The board of directors of each parent organi- zation that receives an award under this sec- tion shall meet not less than once in each cal- endar quarter to review the activities for which the award was made. (2) Continuation award When a parent organization requests a con- tinuation award under this section, the board of directors shall submit to the Secretary a written review of the parent training and in- formation program conducted by the parent organization during the preceding fiscal year. (Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 671, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2788.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 1471, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 671, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 135, related to congressional findings and purposes for subpart 1 of part B of former subchapter IV of this chapter, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446. Another prior section 1471, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 671, as added Pub. L. 99–457, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1145; amended Pub. L. 100–630, title I, § 108(a), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3301; Pub. L. 101–476, title IX, § 901(b)(158)–(161), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1149; Pub. L. 102–119, §§ 11, 25(a)(16), (b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 595, 606, 607, related to congressional findings and policy with regard to early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, prior to re- peal by Pub. L. 105–17, title II, § 203(b), June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 157, effective July 1, 1998. § 1472. Community parent resource centers (a) Program authorized (1) In general The Secretary may award grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agree- ments with, local parent organizations to sup- Page 1017 TITLE 20—EDUCATION § 1473 port community parent resource centers that will help ensure that underserved parents of children with disabilities, including low in- come parents, parents of limited English pro- ficient children, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information the parents need to enable the parents to participate effec- tively in helping their children with disabil- ities— (A) to meet developmental and functional goals, and challenging academic achieve- ment goals that have been established for all children; and (B) to be prepared to lead productive inde- pendent adult lives, to the maximum extent possible. (2) Definition of local parent organization In this section, the term ‘‘local parent orga- nization’’ means a parent organization, as de- fined in section 1471(a)(2) of this title, that— (A) has a board of directors the majority of whom are parents of children with disabil- ities ages birth through 26 from the commu- nity to be served; and (B) has as its mission serving parents of children with disabilities who— (i) are ages birth through 26; and (ii) have the full range of disabilities de- scribed in section 1401(3) of this title. (b) Required activities Each community parent resource center as- sisted under this section shall— (1) provide training and information that meets the training and information needs of parents of children with disabilities proposed to be served by the grant, contract, or cooper- ative agreement; (2) carry out the activities required of par- ent training and information centers under paragraphs (2) through (9) of section 1471(b) of this title; (3) establish cooperative partnerships with the parent training and information centers funded under section 1471 of this title; and (4) be designed to meet the specific needs of families who experience significant isolation from available sources of information and sup- port. (Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 672, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2791.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 1472, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 672, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 136, related to research and innovation to improve serv- ices and results for children with disabilities, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446. Another prior section 1472, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 672, as added Pub. L. 99–457, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1146; amended Pub. L. 100–630, title I, § 108(b), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3301; Pub. L. 101–476, title VIII, § 801, title IX, § 901(b)(162), (163), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1141, 1149; Pub. L. 102–119, §§ 12, 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 595, 607, related to definitions, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–17, title II, § 203(b), June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 157, effective July 1, 1998. § 1473. Technical assistance for parent training and information centers (a) Program authorized (1) In general The Secretary may, directly or through awards to eligible entities, provide technical assistance for developing, assisting, and co- ordinating parent training and information programs carried out by parent training and information centers receiving assistance under section 1471 of this title and community par- ent resource centers receiving assistance under section 1472 of this title. (2) Definition of eligible entity In this section, the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ has the meaning given the term in section 1461(b) of this title. (b) Authorized activities The Secretary may provide technical assist- ance to a parent training and information cen- ter or a community parent resource center under this section in areas such as— (1) effective coordination of parent training efforts; (2) dissemination of scientifically based re- search and information; (3) promotion of the use of technology, in- cluding assistive technology devices and as- sistive technology services; (4) reaching underserved populations, includ- ing parents of low-income and limited English proficient children with disabilities; (5) including children with disabilities in general education programs; (6) facilitation of transitions from— (A) early intervention services to pre- school; (B) preschool to elementary school; (C) elementary school to secondary school; and (D) secondary school to postsecondary en- vironments; and (7) promotion of alternative methods of dis- pute resolution, including mediation. (c) Collaboration with the resource centers Each eligible entity receiving an award under subsection (a) shall develop collaborative agree- ments with the geographically appropriate re- gional resource center and, as appropriate, the regional educational laboratory supported under section 9564 of this title, to further parent and professional collaboration. (Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 673, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2791.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 1473, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 673, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 139, related to personnel preparation to improve serv- ices and results for children with disabilities, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446. Another prior section 1473, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 673, as added Pub. L. 99–457, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1147; amended Pub. L. 101–476, title IX, § 901(b)(164), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1150; Pub. L. 102–119,