1. What is OSEP's Mission?
   
   
2. What is the history of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?
   
   
3. Where can I find statistics about the education of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities?
   
   
4. Where can I find information regarding IDEA policy and legislation?
   
   
5. How can I find a list of current projects being funded by OSEP?
   
   
6. How do I get more information about grant funding from the Office of Special Education Programs and other Department of Education programs?
   
   
7. How can I get a copy of the IDEA'97 Regulations?
   
   
8. Where can I get answers to some commonly asked questions regarding IDEA?
   

1. What is OSEP's Mission?

   OSEP is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21, by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. 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 non-profit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development and parent-training and information centers. For more about the OSEP organization structure go to the About OSEP page.

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2. What is the history of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?

   The 22nd Annual Report also contains, in its Preface, a Background and History and Key Components of the Act. Also, OSEP's IDEA 97 Training Package contains a section on the HISTORY of IDEA.

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3. Where can I find statistics about the education of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities?

   Each year, OSEP publishes an Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The most recent Report, the 22nd Annual Report, marks the 25th anniversary of the passage of P.L. 94-142, the Education of the Handicapped Children Act of 1975. The annual reports published since that time have informed Congress and the public of the steady progress made in implementing the Act.

   The following Reports are available online through the OSEP Web site:

   24th AnnualReport
   23rd AnnualReport
   22nd AnnualReport
   21st Annual Report
   20th Annual Report
   19th Annual Report
   18th Annual Report
   17th Annual Report

   You can obtain a hard copy of the most recent Annual Report through the Department of Education's ED Pubs On-Line Ordering System. EDPUBS is intended to help you identify and order U.S. Department of Education publications and products.

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4. Where can I find information regarding IDEA policy and legislation?

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5. How can I find a list of current projects being funded by OSEP?

   The OSEP-funded at the Council for Exceptional Children maintains a database of currently-funded projects. This database contains descriptions of more than 1000 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 Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

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6. How do I get more information about grant funding from the Office of Special Education Programs and other Department of Education programs?

   The Department of Education has published What Should I Know About EDGrants? This document is designed to assist those interested in applying for Department of Education grants. Also, the Department of Education hosts a discretionary grant Web page that lists all currently-open grant competitions. For specific information about OSEP open grant competitions, you can check the OSEP Grants and Funding Web page.

   Individuals are not eligible to apply for discretionary grant funds.

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7. How can I get a copy of the IDEA'97 Regulations?

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8. Where can I get answers to some commonly asked questions regarding IDEA?

   For answers to commonly asked questions regarding IDEA, you may want to obtain the OSEP-funded, National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) documents entitled:

   Questions and Answer about IDEA
   NICHCY, ND 21, 2nd Edition, 2000.

   and

   Questions Often Asked by Parents About Special Education Services
   NICHCY, LG1, 4th Edition, September 1999.

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