University Of Oregon Awarded $1.6 Million Grant To Help Improve Services For Children With Disabilities
Press Release
The U.S. Department of Education announced today a $1.6 million grant to the University of Oregon for the continued operation of the National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). This center will build on current advances in behavior support practices, improved approaches to data-based decision-making, scalable implementation strategies, and technical assistance with the overall aim of improving the social, emotional, and academic outcomes of students with disabilities.
To provide these services nationally the university plans several activities in collaboration with the partners, including organizing technical assistance "hubs" across the nation; documenting and showing state education agencies and local school districts how to offer high quality services; creating model schools and school districts; and increasing the technical assistance capacity in high-need, low performing priority schools.
"This grant will help the University of Oregon create a national network of resources and research to help students with disabilities adapt well and improve academically," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "It's important that all students have access to the best services to address their individual and collective needs."
The PBIS framework helps to improve behavioral and academic outcomes by improving school climate and safety, preventing problem behavior, increasing learning time, promoting positive social skills, and delivering effective behavioral interventions and supports that keep children in school and engaged in learning.
The grant is being awarded by the Education Department's Office of Special Education Programs. In years 2-5 of this project, the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program may provide up to an additional $2,500,000 to this project to provide assistance to the proposed School Transformation Grants.
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