Learning Differences Act of 1998

Summary: Learning Differences Act of 1998 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, as many as five institutions of higher education, on a competitive basis, for demonstration projects to develop, test, and disseminate methods, techniques, and procedures for ensuring equal educational opportunity in postsecondary education for individuals with learning disabilities. 
Requires national geographic distribution of such awards, to the extent feasible, but authorizes giving priority to a historically Black college or university that meets specified eligibility requirements. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Learning Differences Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Disability is a natural part of the human experience 
        and encompasses physical, mental, and cognitive impairments. 
        The term ``learning disability'' refers to a number of specific 
        learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. These disorders may 
        manifest themselves in an imperfect ability to listen, think, 
        speak, read, write, spell, reason, or perform mathematical 
        calculations. Learning disabilities tend to endure from 
        childhood into adulthood.
            (2) 2,600,000 of the 5,100,000 children with disabilities 
        served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 
        elementary and secondary education are children with learning 
        disabilities.
            (3) About 2 percent of all undergraduate students 
        nationwide report having a learning disability. Different 
        teaching strategies are needed to enable them to develop their 
        talents and perform up to their capacity.
            (4) A greater number of individuals with learning 
        disabilities can benefit from postsecondary education, and 
        contribute more fully to society and the economy, with adequate 
        and appropriate programs, services, adaptations, and 
        accommodations.
            (5) Civil rights laws protect individuals with 
        disabilities, including individuals with learning disabilities, 
        in postsecondary education, and institutions of higher 
        education require assistance to comply with these laws.
            (6) Exemplary institutions of higher education dedicated to 
        meeting the needs of individuals with learning disabilities 
        exist and can serve as a national resource for other 
        institutions in educating these students.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To assist model institutions of higher education with 
        demonstrated prior experience in serving individuals with 
        learning disabilities.
            (2) To demonstrate and disseminate programs, services, 
        adaptations, accommodations, strategies, and approaches to 
        teaching individuals with disabilities in postsecondary 
        education.

SEC. 3. PROGRAM AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education may award grants to, 
and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, not more than 
5 institutions of higher education that are described in section 4 for 
demonstration projects to develop, test, and disseminate, in accordance 
with section 5, methods, techniques, and procedures for ensuring equal 
educational opportunity for individuals with learning disabilities in 
postsecondary education.
    (b) Award Basis.--Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements 
shall be awarded on a competitive basis.
    (c) Award Period.--Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements 
shall be awarded for a period of 3 years.

SEC. 4. ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.

    Entities eligible to apply for a grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement under this Act are institutions of higher education (as 
defined in section 1201 of the Higher Education Act of 1956) with 
demonstrated prior experience with meeting the postsecondary 
educational needs of individuals with learning disabilities.

SEC. 5. REQUIRED ACTIVITIES.

    A recipient of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under 
this Act shall use the funds received under this Act to carry out each 
of the following activities:
            (1) Developing or identifying innovative, effective, and 
        efficient approaches, strategies, supports, modifications, 
        adaptations, and accommodations that enable individuals with 
        learning disabilities to fully participate in postsecondary 
        education.
            (2) Synthesizing research and other information related to 
        the provision of services to individuals with learning 
        disabilities in postsecondary education.
            (3) Conducting training sessions for personnel from other 
        institutions of higher education to enable them to meet the 
        special needs of postsecondary students with learning 
        disabilities.
            (4) Preparing and disseminating products based upon the 
        activities described in paragraphs (1) through (3).
            (5) Coordinating findings and products from the activities 
        described in paragraphs (1) through (4) with other similar 
        products and findings through participation in conferences, 
        groups, and professional networks involved in the dissemination 
        of technical assistance and information on postsecondary 
        education.

SEC. 6. PRIORITY.

    The Secretary of Education shall ensure that, to the extent 
feasible, there is a national geographic distribution of grants, 
contracts, and cooperative agreements awarded under this Act throughout 
the States, except that the Secretary may give priority to a 
historically Black college or university that satisfies the 
requirements of section 4.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2001.