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U.S. Department of Education Resources
The U.S. Department of Education provides funding for a rich variety of projects that will help state and local school systems improve educational results. These resources are described and contact information (address, phone, fax, e-mail, and web locations) provided for each project. The resources included on this CD are:

Office of Special Education Programs and Rehabilitative Services (OSEP) administers the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA authorizes formula grants to states, and discretionary grants to institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development and parent-training and information centers. These programs are intended to ensure that the rights of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their parents are protected.

Special Education Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network: Projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs and Rehabilitative Services. These include five broad types of assistance centers: information clearinghouses; topically-focused centers; population-focused centers; Partnership Projects (supporters of this CD Development); and Regional Resource Centers serving state educational agencies.

Parent Training and Information Centers: Parent centers in each state provide training and information to parents of infants, toddlers, school-aged children, and young adults with disabilities and the professionals who work with their families. This assistance helps parents participate more effectively with professionals in meeting the educational needs of children and youth with disabilities.

IDEA Partnership Projects: The IDEA Partnerships are four national projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to deliver a common message about the landmark 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA Partnerships represent a network of 105 organizations working together as partners to learn from one another and make changes to improve special education. Together, they build collaboration, cooperation, and communication in the delivery of special education services.

• Associations of Service Providers Implementing IDEA Reforms in Education (ASPIIRE)
• The Families and Advocates Partnership for Education (FAPE)
• IDEA Local Implementation by Local Administrators (ILIAD)
• The Policymaker Partnership (PMP)

OSEP Discretionary Grants and Contracts Database: This database contains descriptions of more than 1100 projects currently funded by the Research to Practice Division of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Funding for these projects is authorized by the discretionary program provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

National Studies undertaken by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

Regional Educational Laboratories: The Regional Educational Laboratories are educational research and development organizations supported by contracts with the U.S. Education Department, Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI). The network of 10 Regional Educational Laboratories, serving geographic regions that span the nation, works to ensure that those involved in educational improvement at the local, state, and regional levels have access to the best available information from research and practice.

Comprehensive Centers: The U.S. Department of Education has established 15 Comprehensive Regional Assistance Centers to help states, school districts, schools, tribes, community-based organizations, and other grant recipients with the administration, integration and implementation of programs funded under the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA). OESE Regional Service Teams work in coordination with the CCs to provide technical assistance.

State Resources
NICHCY State Resource Sheets locate organizations and agencies within individual states that address disability-related issues. This link requires a live Internet connection to be successfully navigated.