118 STAT. 2801 PUBLIC LAW 108–446—DEC. 3, 2004 ‘‘(14) examine the excess costs of educating a child with a disability and expenses associated with high cost special education and related services; ‘‘(15) help parents improve educational results for their children, particularly related to transition issues; ‘‘(16) address the unique needs of children with significant cognitive disabilities; and ‘‘(17) examine the special needs of limited English proficient children with disabilities. ‘‘(b) STANDARDS.—The Special Education Research Commis sioner shall ensure that activities assisted under this section— ‘‘(1) conform to high standards of quality, integrity, accuracy, validity, and reliability; ‘‘(2) are carried out in accordance with the standards for the conduct and evaluation of all research and development established by the National Center for Education Research; and ‘‘(3) are objective, secular, neutral, and nonideological, and are free of partisan political influence, and racial, cultural, gender, regional, or disability bias. ‘‘(c) PLAN.—The Special Education Research Commissioner shall propose to the Director a research plan, developed in collabora tion with the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, that— ‘‘(1) is consistent with the priorities and mission of the Institute and the mission of the Special Education Research Center; ‘‘(2) is carried out, updated, and modified, as appropriate; ‘‘(3) is consistent with the purposes of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; ‘‘(4) contains an appropriate balance across all age ranges and types of children with disabilities; ‘‘(5) provides for research that is objective and uses measur able indicators to assess its progress and results; and ‘‘(6) is coordinated with the comprehensive plan developed under section 681 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. ‘‘(d) GRANTS, CONTRACTS, AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the duties under this section, the Director may award grants to, or enter into con tracts or cooperative agreements with, eligible applicants. ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.—Activities carried out under this subsection through contracts, grants, or cooperative agree ments shall be carried out only by recipients with the ability and capacity to conduct scientifically valid research. ‘‘(3) APPLICATIONS.—An eligible applicant that wishes to receive a grant, or enter into a contract or cooperative agree ment, under this section shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. ‘‘(e) DISSEMINATION.—The Special Education Research Center shall— ‘‘(1) synthesize and disseminate, through the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, the findings and results of special education research conducted or supported by the Special Education Research Center; and
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