November 2009
ICI’s NCRRC Continues Serving Region with New 5-Year, $6.5 Million Grant
The North Central Regional Resource Center (NCRRC) at the Institute on Community Integration has received renewed funding for 5 more years of operation as one of six Regional Resource Centers (RRCs) funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education. The NCRRC assists State education agencies and lead agencies in the systemic improvement of education programs, practices, and policies that affect infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The new 5-year, $6.5 million grant officially started October 1. “With this renewed funding, we look forward to continuing to work with the States in the North Central Region, and with our RRC colleagues, in a strategic partnership that shares a common vision and focus leading to increased accountability and improved outcomes for children and youth with disabilities,” says NCRRC Director Michael N. Sharpe.
The NCRRC is a member of the Regional Resource Center Program (RRCP), an alliance of all six RRCs across the country. The aim of the RRCP is to develop a national cross-collaboration effort to assist State education and lead agencies in the systemic improvement of education programs, practices, and policies that impact infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families. As such, members of the RRCP engage in a joint effort to identify and broker integrated solutions through on-going State needs assessment, consultation, information dissemination, and technical assistance activities.
The NCRRC is responsible for assisting Region 4 State agencies (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin) in implementing the federal requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The NCRRC provides coordinated and research-based technical assistance to help State education and lead agencies (1) meet federal accountability requirements under IDEA; (2) identify and implement systems of general supervision by which States monitor the implementation of Part B and Part C of IDEA; and (3) work with other centers in the technical assistance and dissemination network to develop, identify, and implement evidenced-based tools and practices.
Much of the work of the NCRRC is focused on ensuring that infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities receive quality educational services by assisting States to meet their State Performance Plan (SPP) targets for special education and early childhood services as required by IDEA. Another responsibility of the NCRRC is to disseminate information that can facilitate the development and implementation of State activities that address the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) goals outlined in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in relation to special education issues.
For more information on the NCRRC visit www.rrfcnetwork.org/ncrrc or contact Michael Sharpe at 612-626-8155 or sharp004@umn.edu.