research, training, and model centers

research, training, and model centers Sec. 661. (a) The Commissioner is authorized to make grants to, and contracts with, institutions of higher education, State and local educational agencies, and other public and private educational and research agencies and organizations (except that no grant shall be made other than to a nonprofit agency or organization) in order to carry out a program of— (1) research and related purposes relating to the education of children with specific learning disabilities; (2) professional or advanced training for educational personnel who are teaching, or are preparing to be teachers of, children with specific learning disabilities, or such training for persons who are, or are preparing to be, supervisors and teachers of such personnel; and 84 Stat. 188 (3) establishing and operating model centers for the improvement of education of children with specific learning disabilities, which centers shall (A) provide testing and educational evaluation to identify children with learning disabilities who have been referred to such centers, (B) develop and conduct model programs designed to meet the special educational needs of such children, (C) assist appropriate educational agencies, organizations, and institutions in making such model programs available to other children with learning disabilities, and (D) disseminate new methods or techniques for overcoming learning disabilities to educational institutions, organizations, and agencies within the the area served by such center and evaluate the effectiveness of the dissemination process. Such evaluation shall be conducted annually after the first year of operation of a center. In making grants and contracts under this section the Commissioner shall give special consideration to applications which propose innovative and creative approaches to meeting the educational needs of children with specific learning disabilities, and those which emphasize the prevention and early identification of learning disabilities. (b) In making grants and controls under this section, the Commissioner shall— (1) for the purposes of clause (2) of subsection (a), seek to achieve an equitable geographical distribution of training programs and trained personnel throughout the Nation, and (2) for the purposes of clause (3) of subsection (a), to the extent feasible, taking into consideration the appropriations pursuant to this section, seek to encourage the establishment of a model center in each of the States. (c) For the purpose of making grants and contracts under this section there are hereby authorized to be appropriated $12,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970, $20,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971, and $31,000,000 for each of the succeeding fiscal years ending prior to July 1, 1973.