early education for handicapped children

early education for handicapped children Sec. 623. (a) The Commissioner is authorized to arrange by contract, grant, or otherwise with appropriate public agencies and private nonprofit organizations, for the development and carrying out by such agencies and organizations of experimental preschool and early education programs for handicapped children which the Commissioner determines show promise of promoting a comprehensive and strengthened approach to the special problems of such children. Such programs shall be distributed to the greatest extent possible throughout. the Nation, and shall be carried out both in urban and in rural areas. Such programs shall include activities and services designed to (1) facilitate the intellectual, emotional, physical, mental, social, and language development of such children; (2) encourage the participation of the parents of such children in the development and operation of any such program; and (3) acquaint the community to be served by any such program with the problems and potentialities of such children. (b) Each arrangement for developing or carrying out a program authorized by this section shall provide for the effective coordination of each such program with similar programs in the schools of the community to be served by such a program. (c) No arrangement pursuant to this section shall provide for the payment of more than 90 per centum of the cost of developing, carrying out, or evaluating such a program. Non-Federal contributions may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including, but not limited to, plant, equipment, and services.