REPORT ON ENHANCING BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR MILITARY DEPENDENT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS.

SEC. 586. REPORT ON ENHANCING BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR MILITARY DEPENDENT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS.(a) Report Required.—Not later than September 30, 2011, the Secretary of the Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report describing the needs of military families with children with special education needs and evaluating options to enhance the benefits available to such families and children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) in meeting such needs.(b) Consultation.—The Secretary of Defense shall prepare the report in consultation with the Secretary of Education.(c) Elements.—In preparing the report, the Secretary of Defense shall—(1) identify and assess obstacles faced by military families with children with special education needs in obtaining a free appropriate public education to address such needs;(2) identify and assess evidence-based research and best practices for providing special education and related services (as those terms are defined in section 602 of the Individuals 124 STAT. 4230 with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401)) for military children with special education needs;(3) assess timeliness in obtaining special education and related services described in paragraph (2);(4) determine and document the cost associated with obtaining special education and related services described in paragraph (2);(5) assess the feasibility of establishing an individualized education program for military children with special education needs that is applicable across jurisdictions of local educational agencies in order to achieve reciprocity among States in acknowledging such programs;(6) identify means of improving oversight and compliance with the requirements of section 614 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1414) relating to a local educational agency supporting an existing individualized education program for a child with special education needs who is relocating to another State pursuant to the permanent change of station of a military parent until an individualized education program is developed and approved for such child in the State to which the child relocates;(7) assess the feasibility of establishing an expedited process for resolution of complaints by military parents with a child with special education needs about lack of access to education and related services otherwise specified in the individualized education program of the child;(8) assess the feasibility of permitting the Department of Defense to contact the State to which a military family with a child with special education needs will relocate pursuant to a permanent change of station when the orders for such change of station are issued, but before the family takes residence in such State, for the purpose of commencing preparation for education and related services specified in the individualized education program of the child;(9) assess the feasibility of establishing a system within the Department of Defense to document complaints by military parents regarding access to free and appropriate public education for their children with special education needs;(10) identify means to strengthen the monitoring and oversight of special education and related services for military children with special education needs under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for Military Children; and(11) consider such other matters as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Education jointly consider appropriate.