S. 1978 – Reading Mode

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1978

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 2, 2007

Mr. Reed introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to award grants to implement a co-teaching model for educating students with disabilities.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Co-Teaching Educator Professional Development Act of 2007.

Co-teaching educator professional development

Section 2151 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6651 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(g)

Co-teaching educator professional development

(1)

Purposes

The purposes of this subsection are to ensure that—

(A)

students with disabilities are educated with their peers in the least restrictive environment;

(B)

students with disabilities have access, with appropriate supports and services, to the same academic content as other students;

(C)

the requirements of section 1119(a) and section 612(a)(14)(C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are met; and

(D)

general education teachers, special education teachers, principals, and administrators who implement a co-teaching model for instructing students with disabilities are provided with the necessary and effective professional development and support to enhance their pedagogical, collaborative, planning, and interpersonal skills and increase the achievement of such students.

(2)

Definitions

In this subsection:

(A)

Eligible entity

The term eligible entity means—

(i)

one or more local educational agencies; or

(ii)

one or more local educational agencies in collaboration with an institution of higher education, a teacher organization, or a State educational agency.

(B)

Co-teaching

The term co-teaching means an instructional delivery option, offered either full-time or part-time, based on a collaborative professional relationship between a teacher with expertise in delivering instruction to students with disabilities and a teacher with expertise in a specific core content area or a team of such teachers, such as a grade level team or a middle school team, for the purpose of jointly delivering substantive instruction to a diverse, blended group of students in a single general education classroom and ensuring that students with disabilities receive the special instruction, supports, and services to which they are entitled while ensuring that they can access a rigorous general curriculum in the least restrictive environment.

(3)

Program authorized

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to provide professional development opportunities and high-quality support for general education teachers and special education teachers, principals, and administrators that implement a co-teaching model. Such professional development opportunities and support shall assist teachers, principals, and administrators in—

(i)

clearly defining classroom, teaching, and decision-making roles and responsibilities, shared instructional and educational goals and expectations, and shared accountability for student outcomes;

(ii)

utilizing research-based co-teaching strategies and approaches for differentiated instruction, including accommodations, modifications, and positive behavioral supports to facilitate learning and address diverse learning and student needs;

(iii)

improving the participation and engagement of all students in classes that use co-teaching while meeting the individualized needs of students with disabilities;

(iv)

improving collaboration skills for fostering a constructive professional co-teaching partnership, including development of effective communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills;

(v)

enhancing time, resource, and classroom management skills;

(vi)

effectively scheduling and lesson planning for co-teaching instruction, including common planning time for such purpose;

(vii)

effectively involving parents and families of students with disabilities in co-teaching program development, implementation, and evaluation;

(viii)

jointly developing and planning a student’s IEP and overall classroom curriculum for co-teaching instruction;

(ix)

implementing strategies in a class that uses co-teaching for improving student learning gains on required State assessments, including alternate assessments;

(x)

providing constructive feedback and coaching on a regular basis to improve instructional and classroom practices; and

(xi)

developing clear and tailored instructional strategies, plans, procedures, practices, and assessment tools for remediation or developmental specialized instruction designed to meet, in a class that uses co-teaching, the goals and objectives in a student’s IEP.

(4)

Application

An eligible entity that desires a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.

(5)

Evaluation

Each program receiving a grant under this subsection shall report on the effectiveness of the professional development being provided based on not less than the following criteria:

(A)

Student academic learning gains.

(B)

Teacher retention.

(C)

Meeting IEP goals and objectives.

(D)

The increase in the amount of time spent by students with disabilities on general education curriculum in a general education setting.

(E)

Student behavior.

(F)

Evaluation of school professionals.

(G)

Parent, family, and community involvement.

(H)

The support and commitment of principals and administrators.

(I)

Teacher satisfaction.