An amendment numbered 11 printed in House Report 110-523 to provide competitive Teach to Reach grants to eligible partnerships to provide general education teacher candidates with the knowledge and skills to effectively instruct students with disabilities in their classrooms. Eligible partnerships must include an institution of higher education; a special education department within that institution, and a high-need local education agency.

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“Subpart 6--Preparing General Education Teachers to More Effectively Educate Students With Disabilities “SEC. 291. TEACH TO REACH GRANTS.

“(a) Authorization of Program.--

“(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible partnerships to improve the preparation of general education teacher candidates to ensure that such teacher candidates possess the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively instruct students with disabilities in their classrooms.

“(2) Duration of grants.--A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of five years.

“(3) Non-federal share.--An eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall provide not less than 25 percent of the cost of the activities carried out with such grant from non-Federal sources, which may be provided in cash or in kind.

“(b) Definition of Eligible Partnership.--In this section, the term ‘eligible partnership' is a partnership that--

“(1) shall include--

“(A) one or more departments or programs at an institution of higher education--

“(i) that prepare elementary or secondary general education teachers;

“(ii) that have a program of study that leads to an undergraduate degree, a master's degree, or completion of a post-baccalaureate program required for teacher certification; and

“(iii) the graduates of which are highly qualified, as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;

“(B) a department or program of special education at an institution of higher education; and

“(C) a high-need local educational agency; and

“(2) may include a department or program of mathematics, earth or physical science, foreign language, or other departments at the institution that have a role in preparing teachers.

“(c) Required Activities.--An eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to--

“(1) develop or strengthen an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or master's teacher preparation program by integrating special education strategies into the general education curriculum and academic content;

“(2) provide teacher candidates participating in the program under paragraph (1) with skills related to--

“(A) response to intervention, positive behavioral supports, differentiated instruction, and data driven instruction;

“(B) developing and administering alternate assessments of students with disabilities;

“(C) determining and utilizing accommodations for instruction and assessments;

“(D) collaborating with special educators, related services providers, and parents, including participation in Individualized Education Program development and implementation; and

“(E) utilizing technology and assistive technology for students with disabilities; and

“(3) provide extensive clinical experience for such participants, with mentoring and induction support throughout the program that continues during the first year of full-time teaching.

“(d) Application.--An eligible partnership seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. Such application shall include--

“(1) A self-assessment by the eligible partnership of the existing teacher preparation program at the institution of higher education and needs related to preparing general education teacher candidates to instruct students with disabilities.

“(2) An assessment of the existing personnel needs for general education teachers who instruct students with disabilities, performed by the local educational agency in which most graduates of the teacher preparation program are likely to teach after completion of the program under subsection (c)(1).

“(e) Peer Review.--The Secretary shall convene a peer review committee to review applications for grants under this section and to make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the selection of grantees. Members of the peer review committee shall be recognized experts in the fields of special education, teacher preparation, and general education, and shall not be in a position to benefit financially from any grants awarded under this section.

“(f) Evaluations.--

“(1) By the partnership.--An eligible partnership receiving a grant under this section shall conduct an evaluation at the end of the grant period to determine the effectiveness of the general education teachers who completed a program under subsection (c)(1) at instruction of students with disabilities in general education classrooms, and the systemic impact of the activities carried out by such grant on how each institution of higher education that is a member of the partnership prepares teachers for instruction in elementary and secondary schools. Each eligible partnership performing an evaluation under this paragraph shall report the findings of such evaluation to the Secretary.

“(2) Report by the secretary.--Not later than 180 days after the last day of the grant period under this section, the Secretary shall make available to Congress and the public the findings of the evaluations submitted under paragraph (1), and information on best practices related to effective instruction of students with disabilities in general education classrooms.”.