### §6674. Technical assistance and national evaluation

#### (a) In general

From the funds reserved under section 6671(3) of this title for a fiscal year, the Secretary—

(1) shall establish, in a manner consistent with section 9602 of this title, a comprehensive center on students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability that meets the purposes of subsection (b); and

(2) may—

(A) provide technical assistance, which may be carried out directly or through grants or contracts, to States and local educational agencies carrying out activities under this part; and

(B) carry out evaluations of activities by States and local educational agencies under this part, which shall be conducted by a third party or by the Institute of Education Sciences.

#### (b) Purposes

The comprehensive center established by the Secretary under subsection (a)(1) shall—

(1) identify or develop free or low-cost evidence-based assessment tools for identifying students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability, including dyslexia impacting reading or writing, or developmental delay impacting reading, writing, language processing, comprehension, or executive functioning;

(2) identify evidence-based literacy instruction, strategies, and accommodations, including assistive technology, designed to meet the specific needs of such students;

(3) provide families of such students with information to assist such students;

(4) identify or develop evidence-based professional development for teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, other school leaders, and specialized instructional support personnel to—

(A) understand early indicators of students at risk of not attaining full literacy skills due to a disability, including dyslexia impacting reading or writing, or developmental delay impacting reading, writing, language processing, comprehension, or executive functioning;

(B) use evidence-based screening assessments for early identification of such students beginning not later than kindergarten; and

(C) implement evidence-based instruction designed to meet the specific needs of such students; and

(5) disseminate the products of the comprehensive center to regionally diverse State educational agencies, local educational agencies, regional educational agencies, and schools, including, as appropriate, through partnerships with other comprehensive centers established under section 9602 of this title, and regional educational laboratories established under section 9564 of this title.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title II, §2244, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title II, §2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1951.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6674, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, §2304, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, §201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1651, related to participation agreements with, and financial assistance for, Troops-to-Teachers Program participants, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title V, §541(d)(1), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1735.

Another prior section 6674, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, §2304, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, §101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3634, related to plan for program to be assisted, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110.

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as an Effective Date of 2015 Amendment note under section 6301 of this title.