The elimination of the funding for the IDEA professional development program is short-sighted and will result in the lack of adequate training for those on the front line of education. Innovation and Development. The Innovation and Development program supports the backbone of research in the education of children with disabilities. This program provides new knowledge and develops improved approaches and products to better the education of children with disabilities. As issues regarding the education of students with disabilities shift from access to education to the quality of the education provided, it becomes increasingly imperative that there be a continual investment in research and innovation activities that help teachers improve the quality of the services to children with disabilities.
Research is useless without the dissemination of the information obtained.
That is why IDEA authorizes three clearinghouses to provide current, reliable information to parents, teachers, and others on the education of children with disabilities. The National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities, the National Clearinghouse on Higher Education and Adult Training for People with Disabilities, and the National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education, help translate special education research into an understandable format that can be used by parents and professionals. Early Childhood Education. The Early Childhood Education program complements the Part H Early Intervention program and the Preschool program by developing models of best practice for preschool and early intervention programs and by improving statewide program development. The program supports demonstration, outreach and research activities to address the special needs of children aged birth through eight that have disabilities.