The US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs awarded a five year grant to the Georgia Department of Education The intent of funding for the grant which begins September 2007 is directed towards improving educational results for children with disabilities through the delivery of high quality instruction and the recruitment, hiring, and retention of highly qualified teachers. The Division for Special Education Services and Supports will collaborate with other Divisions within GaDOE, the National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities, local school districts, Georgia Learning Resource Systems (GLRS), other agencies, parent advocacy groups, and institutions of higher education to maximize resources to meet the following grant goals:

1. Improved student reading and mathematics achievement and increased numbers of students who graduate with a regular diploma*
2. Decreased number of students who dropout*
3. Increased attainment of better postsecondary outcomes
4. Increased recruitment of fully certified special education teachers
5. Increased parent support and skills development for young children


* The SPDG has developed web resources to assist school districts in addressing these goals. For information about available modules, webinars and materials visit the SPDG's GraduateFirst website (http://www.graduatefirst.org).

• 2007 State Personnel Development Grant
• Year 1 Annual Performance Report for SPDG
• Year 2 Annual Performance Report for SPDG
• Year 3 Annual Performance Report for SPDG
• Year 4 Annual Performance Report for SPDG
• Georgia Attachment for Year 4