Florida Dept. of Education recieves $1.2 million grant

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Education announced on Saturday the award of $24 million in grants to 22 states to improve personnel training systems to help children with disabilities.

Florida will receive $1,294,439 of the $24 million dollars given out to states.

The grant awards will support several types of projects, including: recruitment and retention of highly qualified special education teachers; training in how to connect instruction for students with disabilities with the common core standards; teacher mentoring; collaborating with regular education teachers; and training in methods of positive behavioral interventions and supports to improve student behavior in the classroom.

"The quality of education our children with disabilities receive is dependent on how well-equipped the workforce is in supporting young people with disabilities," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. These grants will support states' efforts to improve their training systems for staff, and better serve children with disabilities as a result."