And finally, scanners must be able to understand and describe how special education interrelates with education as a whole. This will broaden the retrieval of information. Positions may be at the school, district, state or regional levels. Scanners provide information and become a part of a network focused on improving their ability to report. Through continual involvement, scanners become more informed, discriminating reporters who are involved in multiple activities.
Scanners are the feedback loop linking policy and practice.
Sustained participation is desirable and is actively supported. On-going participation in the scanning network is intentionally designed to continually improve the ability to understand and report implementation of IDEA' 97.