Ill STAT. 142 PUBLIC LAW 105-17^JUNE 4, 1997 "(I) to meet the diverse needs of children with disabihties for early intervention, educational, and transitional services; and "(II) to work collaboratively in regular classroom settings; and "(ii) to incorporate best practices and researchbased knowledge about preparing personnel so they will have the knowledge and skills to improve educational results for children with disabilities. "(B) Activities incorporating innovative strategies to recruit and prepare teachers and other personnel to meet the needs of areas in which there are acute and persistent shortages of personnel. "(C) Developing career opportunities for paraprofessionals to receive training as special education teachers, related services personnel, and early intervention personnel, including interdisciplinary training to enable them to improve early intervention, educational, and transitional results for children with disabilities. " (f) APPLICATIONS.— "(1) IN GENERAL. — Any eligible entity that wishes to receive a grant, or enter into a contract or cooperative agreement, under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. " (2) IDENTIFIED STATE NEEDS.— "(A) REQUIREMENT TO ADDRESS IDENTIFIED NEEDS.— Any application under subsection (b), (c), or (e) shall include information demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the activities described in the application will address needs identified by the State or States the applicant proposes to serve. " (B) COOPERATION WITH STATE EDUCATIONAL AGEN- CIES.—Any applicant that is not a local educational agency or a State educational agency shall include information demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the applicant and one or more State educational agencies have engaged in a cooperative effort to plan the project to which the application pertains, and will cooperate in carrying out and monitoring the project. " (3) ACCEPTANCE BY STATES OF PERSONNEL PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS. —The Secretary may require applicants to provide letters from one or more States stating that the States— "(A) intend to accept successful completion of the proposed personnel preparation program as meeting State personnel standards for serving children with disabilities or serving infants and toddlers with disabilities; and "(B) need personnel in the area or areas in which the applicant proposes to provide preparation, as identified in the States' comprehensive systems of personnel development under parts B and C. " (g) SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS. — "(1) IMPACT OF PROJECT.—In selecting recipients under this section, the Secretary may consider the impact of the project proposed in the application in meeting the need for personnel identified by the States.
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