A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n
Biennial Evaluation Report - FY 93-94
Chapter 304
Handicapped Regional Resources and Federal Centers Program
(CFDA No. 84.028)
I. Program Profile
Legislation: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended, Part C, Section 621, P.L. 101-476, (20 U.S.C. 1421) (expires September 30, 1995).
Purpose: To establish and operate regional resource centers (RRCs) to provide consultation, technical assistance, and training to State education agencies (SEAs) and through such agencies, to local education agencies (LEAs) and other appropriate public agencies providing special education, related services, and early intervention services; and to establish and operate a national coordination technical assistance center focusing on national priorities.
Funding History
| Fiscal Year |
Appropriation |
Fiscal Year | Appropriation |
| 1969 | $5,000,000 | 1986 | $6,029,000 |
| 1970 | 3,000,000 | 1987 | 6,700,000 |
| 1975 | 7,087,000 | 1988 | 6,415,000 |
| 1980 | 9,750,000 | 1989 | 6,338,000 |
| 1981 | 2,950,000 | 1990 | 6,510,000 |
| 1982 | 2,880,000 | 1991 | 6,620,000 |
| 1983 | 2,880,000 | 1992 | 7,000,000 |
| 1984 | 5,700,000 | 1993 | 7,218,000 |
| 1985 | 6,000,000 | 1994 | 7,218,000 |
II. Program Information and Analysis
Population Targeting
The Regional Resource and Federal Centers Program was established to provide support for a variety of activities to assist State education agencies and, through those SEAs, to local education agencies and other appropriate agencies providing special education, related services, and early intervention services to infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. Services
The national focus of the Regional Resource Center (RCC) program is to support changes in State policies, procedures, and practices which will positively affect local programs and services to children with disabilities and their families. This mission is achieved by assisting the region's State education agencies to: (1) identify and analyze persistent problems that interfere with the provision of quality services; (2) gain access to current special education research, technology, and practices for solving identified problems; (3) link with other States to assist in developing solutions to common problems; (4) adopt new technologies and practices through consultation and the provision of relevant information; and (5) improve the cooperation between professionals and parents of children with disabilities.
The centers produce and disseminate products within their region that should impact upon the State agencies they will serve. These products are designed to improve services to children with disabilities, address legislative mandates, help reduce duplication of services, fill gaps in services, enhance the sharing of information among cooperating service providers, and maintain continuity in services and pool resources during a time when such resources are becoming more limited. Each center serves 7 to 14 States and Territories. The centers are addressing issues, such as (1) meeting the needs of a diverse groups of students with disabilities including, but not limited to, minority and medically fragile children, (2) serving children with disabilities in general education settings, and (3) improving the outcomes for students with disabilities as they make the transition from school to the work place.
A major support to this network is the Federal Resources Center (FRC) which maintains communication with technical assistance projects funded by the Department's Office of Special Education Programs and provides information on national issues and trends, current technical assistance activities, and promising special education practices in order to enhance State capacity in ensuring better results for children.
Program Administration
There are six Regional Resources Centers that provide services. These centers are administered through cooperative agreements and located at the following colleges and universities: Trinity College of Vermont, Burlington, VT; University of Kentucky Research Foundation, Lexington, KY; Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL; Ohio State University Research Foundation, Columbus, OH; Utah State University, Logan, UT; and University of Oregon, Eugene, OR. The FRC is funded through a contract with the Academy for Educational Development, Washington, DC. III. Sources of Information
- Fourteenth Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the IDEA (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, 1992).
- Program files.
IV. Planned Studies
V. Contacts for Further Information
- Program Operations:
- Marie Roane (202) 205-4623
- Program Studies:
- Susan Thompson-Hoffman, (202) 401-3630
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