The number of training centers across the country designed to assist families in accessing services for students with disabilities is on the rise.
Federal education officials said Tuesday that they are awarding more than $9.8 million to expand the number of centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education to 101, an increase of one center from this time last year.
There is at least one training center in each state tasked with helping parents of kids with disabilities navigate the special education system, officials said.
“Parent centers are critical in helping to empower parents and families who have children with disabilities,” said Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in announcing the new funding. “These centers help parents understand the services to which their children are entitled and deserve under the law.”
The new grant money will go toward funding 25 Parent Training and Information Centers located in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.
In addition, the Education Department said that $1.1 million is being awarded to centers in nine states and Puerto Rico specifically to assist families from underserved communities.
Correction: This article has been corrected to reflect that the number of federally-funded centers increased by one since last year.
THE LAWS ARE THERE. THEY JUST WON”T DO IT. DO YOU NOT GET IT. I”M STILL TRYING TO TELL THESE MICHIGAN PEOPLE THAT MY DAUGHTER IS 18. THE LAW IS QUITE CLEAR ABOUT HER SERVICES. THEY STILL THINK SHE HAS TO BE 26. MEDICAID LAW IS 18. DO YOU NOT GET IT. ALL THE HELP CENTERS IN THE WORLD WILL NOT HELP UNEDUCATED LAX ADVACATES. THE LAWS ARE CLEAR. THEY ARE WRITTEN DOWN. YET WE WILL SPEND ALL THIS TAX MONEY FOR HELP CENTERS. DUH. DUH.