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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, In September 2006, the Texas Council on Autism and |
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Pervasive Development Disorders recommended that the Texas |
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Education Agency apply for a State Improvement Grant to help |
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establish and maintain a resource center to train educators and |
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school district staff about best practices for identifying, |
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educating, and providing services to people with autism spectrum |
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disorders (ASD); such a resource center would help ensure adequate |
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preparation and development of all school personnel involved in |
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educating students with such disorders; and |
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WHEREAS, A comprehensive and systematic educator |
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professional development system is urgently needed in order to |
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provide the highly qualified teachers and other school personnel |
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who will help students with ASD to reach their full potential and |
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maximum independence as adults; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas is the only state that has not requested and |
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received funding through a State Improvement Grant from the federal |
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Office of Special Education, despite the fact that these grant |
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funds would reduce future costs to the state, even as the Texas |
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Legislature is considering several proposals, such as the use of |
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private school vouchers, in an effort to provide the specialized |
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instruction those students need; unfortunately, the deadline to |
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apply for a State Personnel Development Grant is March 27, 2007, |
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necessitating immediate action; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby request that the Texas Education Agency act |
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immediately to apply for State Personnel Development Grant Program |
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funding for a resource center to train school personnel working |
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with students with autism spectrum disorders. |