PUBLIC LAW 105-17-JUNE 4, 1997 111 STAT. 139 this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. "(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. —There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 through 2002. "SEC. 673. PERSONNEL PREPARATION lO IMPROVE SERVICES AND 20 USC 1473. RESULTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. "(a) IN GENERAL. — The Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, Grants. make grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements Contracts, with, eligible entities— "(1) to help address State-identified needs for qualified personnel in special education, related services, early intervention, and regular education, to work with children with disabilities; and "(2) to ensure that those personnel have the skills and knowledge, derived from practices that have been determined, through research and experience, to be successful, that are needed to serve those children. "(b) LOW-INCIDENCE DISABILITIES; AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.— "(1) IN GENERAL. — In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall support activities, consistent with the objectives described in subsection (a), that benefit children with lowincidence disabilities. "(2) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES. — Activities that may be carried out under this subsection include activities such as the following: "(A) Preparing persons who— "(i) have prior training in educational and other related service fields; and "(ii) are studying to obtain degrees, certificates, or licensure that will enable them to assist children with disabilities to achieve the objectives set out in their individualized education programs described in section 614(d), or to assist infants and toddlers with disabilities to achieve the outcomes described in their individualized family service plans described in section 636. "(B) Providing personnel from various disciplines with interdisciplinary training that will contribute to improvement in early intervention, educational, and transitional results for children with disabilities. "(C) Preparing personnel in the innovative uses and application of technology to enhance learning by children with disabilities through early intervention, educational, and transitional services. "(D) Preparing personnel who provide services to visually impaired or blind children to teach and use Braille in the provision of services to such children. "(E) Preparing personnel to be qualified educational interpreters, to assist children with disabilities, particularly deaf and hard-of-hearing children in school and schoolrelated activities and deaf and hard-of-hearing infants and toddlers and preschool children in early intervention and preschool programs.
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