PUBLIC LAW 105-17^JUNE 4, 1997 111 STAT. 145 "(C) to provide the President and the Congress with information that will be useful in developing legislation to achieve the purposes of this Act more effectively. "(2) CONSULTATION. — The Secretary shall plan, review, and conduct the national assessment under this subsection in consultation with researchers. State practitioners, local practitioners, parents of children with disabilities, individuals with disabilities, and other appropriate individuals. "(3) SCOPE OF ASSESSMENT. —The national assessment shall examine how well schools, local educational agencies, States, other recipients of assistance under this Act, and the Secretary are achieving the purposes of this Act, including— "(A) improving the performance of children with disabilities in general scholastic activities and assessments as compared to nondisabled children; "(B) providing for the participation of children with disabilities in the general curriculum; "(C) helping children with disabilities make successful transitions from— "(i) early intervention services to preschool education; "(ii) preschool education to elementary school; and "(iii) secondary school to adult life; "(D) placing and serving children with disabilities, including minority children, in the least restrictive environment appropriate; "(E) preventing children with disabilities, especially children with emotional disturbances and specific learning disabilities, from dropping out of school; "(F) addressing behavioral problems of children with disabilities as compared to nondisabled children; "(G) coordinating services provided under this Act with each other, with other educational and pupil services (including preschool services), and with health and social services funded from other sources; "(H) providing for the participation of parents of children with disabilities in the education of their children; and "(I) resolving disagreements between education personnel and parents through activities such as mediation. "(4) INTERIM AND FINAL REPORTS.— The Secretary shall submit to the President and the Congress— "(A) an interim report that summarizes the preliminary findings of the assessment not later than October 1, 1999; and "(B) a final report of the findings of the assessment not later than October 1, 2001. "(c) ANNUAL REPORT. —The Secretary shall report annually to the Congress on— "(1) an analysis and summary of the data reported by the States and the Secretary of the Interior under section 618; "(2) the results of activities conducted under subsection (a); "(3) the findings and determinations resulting from reviews of State implementation of this Act.
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