PUBLIC LAW 105-17—JUNE 4, 1997 111 STAT. 143 " (2) REQUIREMENT ON APPLICANTS TO MEET STATE AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. — The Secretary shall make grants Grants. under this section only to eligible applicants that meet State and professionally-recognized standards for the preparation of special education and related services personnel, if the purpose of the project is to assist personnel in obtaining degrees. "(3) PREFERENCES.— In selecting recipients under this section, the Secretary may— "(A) give preference to institutions of higher education that are educating regular education personnel to meet the needs of children with disabilities in integrated settings and educating special education personnel to work in collaboration with regular educators in integrated settings; and "(B) give preference to institutions of higher education that are successfully recruiting and preparing individuals with disabilities and individuals from groups that are underrepresented in the profession for which they are preparing individuals. "(h) SERVICE OBLIGATION.— "(1) IN GENERAL. —Each application for funds under subsections (b) and (e), and to the extent appropriate subsection (d), shall include an assurance that the applicant will ensure that individuals who receive a scholarship under the proposed project will subsequently provide special education and related services to children with disabilities for a period of 2 years for every year for which assistance was received or repay all or part of the cost of that assistance, in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary. "(2) LEADERSHIP PREPARATION.— Each application for funds under subsection (c) shall include an assurance that the applicant will ensure that individuals who receive a scholarship under the proposed project will subsequently perform work related to their preparation for a period of 2 years for every year for which assistance was received or repay all or part of such costs, in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary. "(i) SCHOLARSHIPS.— The Secretary may include funds for scholarships, with necessary stipends and allowances, in awards under subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e). "(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—T here 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. 674. STUDIES AND EVALUATIONS. "(a) STUDIES AND EVALUATIONS.— "(1) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary shall, directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, assess the progress in the implementation of this Act, including the effectiveness of State and local efforts to provide— "(A) a free appropriate public education to children with disabilities; and "(B) early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and infants and toddlers who would be at risk of having substantial developmental delays if early intervention services were not provided to them. 20 USC 1474. Grants. Contracts.
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