| New Business - Grants |
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Title: Recommendation: Description: The purpose of these grants is to implement statewide initiatives relative to the education of students with disabilities, in compliance with the mandates of IDEA, Part B. The grants require support services in the following areas: *Instructional staff and instructional support staff, equipment, materials/supplies, and contractual services to cover the excess costs of special education and related services to students with disabilities. *Early identification of disabled students through, Child Find, as mandated by IDEA. *Activities/training to address accommodations on state and district tests, and to support inclusion of students with disabilities in state and district tests. *Training of regular education teachers to support the inclusion of disabled students. *Services to parents of students with disabilities by improving the parent/school relationship through workshops and meetings. *Supporting statewide initiatives that will positively impact outcomes for students with disabilities. This grant reflects less than 1% increase in revenue over the previous allocation, but an additional $5.5 million expense increase, primarily as a result of the cost of living adjustments and the private school set aside requirement. It is expected that the use of funds from these grants will lead to increased graduation rate, lowered disproportionality, increased general education participation rate, lower suspension rate and improved student achievement as measured by the statewide assessment programs. The total amount requested includes $5,451,155 in IDEA roll forward funds from 05-06. Upon approval, the grants will be submitted to the Florida Department of Education. Financial Impact: For Additional Information, contact: Attachments (list):
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