Education of the Deaf Act Amendments bill

Education of the Deaf Act Amendments of 1992 - Title I: Amendments to Education of the Deaf Act of 1986 - Subtitle A: Reorganization of Act - Repeals the following provisions of the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986 (the Act, for purposes of this title): (1) title I part B (Kendall Demonstration Elementary School) and part C (Model Secondary School for the Deaf), but consolidates provisions for such elementary and secondary school programs under the new title I part A provisions for Gallaudet University; and (2) title III, the Commission on the Education of the Deaf.

Redesignates title I of the Act as: Gallaudet University; National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Redesignates part A as Gallaudet University and part B as National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Redesignates title II as General Provisions.

Subtitle B: Gallaudet University - Authorizes the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees (the Board) to: (1) make rules relating to the construction of buildings and other facilities; (2) establish such schools as it deems necessary; and (3) establish policies, guidelines, and procedures related to the appointments, salaries, and dismissals of professors, instructors, and other employees of Gallaudet, including the adoption of a policy of outreach and recruitment to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities, particularly individuals who are deaf or individuals who are hard of hearing.

Revises provisions relating to the Gallaudet University operation of elementary and secondary educational programs, including the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and the Model Secondary School for the Deaf. Authorizes the Board to maintain and operate exemplary elementary and secondary education programs, projects, and activities for the primary purpose of developing, evaluating, and disseminating innovative curricula, instructional techniques and strategies, and materials that can be used in various educational environments serving individuals who are deaf and individuals who are hard of hearing. Requires such programs to serve students with a broad spectrum of needs, including students who are lower achieving academically, who come from non-English speaking homes, who have secondary disabilities, who are members of minority groups, or who are from rural areas. Requires such programs to: (1) provide technical assistance and outreach throughout the Nation to meet training and information needs of parents of infants and children who are deaf or hard of hearing; (2) provide technical assistance and training to personnel for teaching students who are deaf or hard of hearing with a broad spectrum of needs or in various educational environments; and (3) establish and publish priorities for research, development, and demonstration through a process that allows for public input. Requires such programs to provide such services in an equitable manner, based on the national distribution of students who are deaf or hard of hearing in educational environments as determined by the Secretary of Education (the Secretary). Extends certain rights and procedural safeguards under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to children placed in such elementary and secondary education programs operated by Gallaudet University.

Requires the Secretary and Gallaudet University to establish, within one year after enactment of this Act, a new agreement governing operation and national mission activities (including construction and equipment provision) of the University's elementary and secondary education programs. Requires periodic updating of such agreement. Includes, under required provisions of such agreement requirements for: (1) annual reports; (2) attention to innovative auditory and visual devices and installations; and (3) prevailing construction wage rates, as required under the Davis-Bacon Act.

Subtitle C: National Technical Institute for the Deaf - Requires the Secretary and the institution of higher education with which the Secretary has an agreement to operate and maintain the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) to: (1) assess any need for modification of the agreement; and (2) periodically update it. Requires the Secretary to forward the annual report of the NTID's Board of Trustees or other governing body to specified congressional committees. Requires that such agreement establish a policy of outreach and recruitment to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities, particularly those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Subtitle D: General Provisions - Defines international student for purposes of this Act.

Establishes certain limitations regarding expenditure of funds under the Act.

Prohibits use of such funds for lobbying; but allows Gallaudet University and NTID to educate the Congress, the Secretary, and others regarding programs, projects, and activities conducted at those institutions. Requires Gallaudet University and NTID to develop policies for the allowability of expenditures for each institution. States that: (1) such policies should reflect the unique nature of these institutions; and (2) such policy development may be guided by principles established by the Office of Management and the Budget for costs of educational institutions. Requires submission of such policies for review and comment by the Secretary and specified congressional committees. Requires that such policies include specified items, and prohibits the Secretary from adding to them.

Requires annual reports by Gallaudet University and NTID to the Secretary and specified congressional committees to contain various types of information on minority students, educational outcomes, support services, recruitment, employment, parent involvement, and Federal Endowment Program investments and use of funds.

Revises requirements for monitoring and evaluation of Gallaudet University and NTID. Requires that Gallaudet's elementary, secondary, preparatory, undergraduate, and graduate programs be included. Authorizes the Secretary also to conduct studies on the provision of preschool, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education, and other related services to individuals who are deaf. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1997 for such monitoring and evaluation activities.

Directs the Secretary to report to the Congress, within 180 days after enactment of this Act, on the Department of Education's progress in implementing the recommendations of the Commission on Education of the Deaf pertaining to: (1) the provision of a free and appropriate public education to children who are deaf and children who are hard of hearing; and (2) the establishment of standards for programs and personnel to meet such children's educational, communicative, and psychological needs. Requires the Secretary to solicit input from the community of individuals who are deaf and individuals who are hard of hearing, in preparing such report.

Enlarges the scope of the liaison for educational programs for the deaf or hard of hearing to include other Federal or non-Federal agencies, institutions, or organizations involved with the education or rehabilitation of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Requires such liaison to review research and other activities to determine areas of overlap and opportunities for coordination.

Revises requirements for Federal endowment programs for Gallaudet and NTID. Requires a two-to-one non-Federal matching contribution for the Gallaudet and the NTID Federal endowment fund programs. Places certain encumbrances upon such Federal endowment funds. Revises limitations on withdrawals or expenditures from Federal endowment fund corpus and income for both Gallaudet University and NTID. Sets forth certain investment requirements for such funds. Provides for investment and expenditure flexibility. Provides for recovery of payments by the Secretary in cases of noncompliance with such withdrawal, expenditure, and investment limitations and standards or failure to account for such investments or expenditures. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1997 in necessary amounts for the Gallaudet University and the NTID Federal endowment funds.

Establishes a scholarship program under which the Secretary may make grants to institutions of higher education with teacher training programs in deaf education or special education to provide scholarships for individuals who are deaf for careers in such fields. Requires priority consideration in selection of qualified recipients to be given to individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, particularly minority individuals who are deaf and who are underrepresented in the teaching profession. Allows institutions: (1) to use such grants to assist in covering costs of courses of training or study for such individuals; and (2) to establish and maintain fellowships or traineeshps with stipends and allowances as the Secretary may determine. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1993 through 1997 for such scholarship program.

Limits the enrollment of international students at Gallaudet University (including preparatory, undergraduate, and graduate students) and NTID to approximately ten percent of the total postsecondary student enrollment at each of such institutions, respectively. Requires a tuition surcharge for international students at both such institutions, with reductions of such surcharge for students from developinig countries.

Extends the authorization of appropriations, for FY 1993 through 1997, for: (1) Gallaudet University; (2) Kendall Demonstration Elementary School; (3) Model Secondary School for the Deaf; and (4) NTID. Repeals provisions for the Commission on Education for the Deaf.

Subtitle E: Technical Amendments - Changes references, under the Act, to deaf individuals (or children) to individuals (or children) who are deaf.

Subtitle F: Effective Dates - Sets forth the effective date for this title.

Title II: Provisions Regarding Other Acts - Subtitle A: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to revise requirements for competitive grants and contracts for model programs of postsecondary, vocational, technical, continuing, or adult education for individuals with disabilities.

Directs the Secretary to continue to provide assistance to the current grantees operating the four regional centers for the deaf through FY 1994 (and through FY 1995, unless the authorization of appropriations for specified parts of such Act is extended by September 30, 1994).

Requires a General Accounting Office study of the four regional centers for the deaf, the scope of which shall be determined by specified officials of certain congressional committees.

Revises requirements for grants for personnel training. Authorizes the Secretary of Education (the Secretary) to make grants, through a separate competition, to institutions of higher education, in partnership with local educational agencies and center schools for students who are deaf, to carry out at least four regional model demonstration programs on deafness and secondary disabilities. Requires such programs to provide preservice and in-service training to teachers, school administrators, and leadership personnel in the education of students who are deaf, as well as to related services personnel.

Authorizes the Secretary to make personnel grants to institutions of higher education and other appropriate nonprofit entities to establish or continue educational interpreter training programs for personnel to meet communication needs of elementary and secondary students who are deaf or deaf-blind. Requires geographic dispersal of such grants. Sets forth application requirements. Allows such grants to provide for training or retraining (including short-term and in-service training) of regular education teachers who instruct individuals who are deaf, but who are not certified as teachers of such individuals, and other personnel who work with such individuals, on the role of educational interpreters.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to institutions of higher education, in partnership with other appropriate entities like local educational agencies and center schools for students who are deaf, for: (1) research in unique needs of children and youth, including those from minority groups, with disabilities; (2) develop and evaluate specialized instructional methods, materials, curricula, and technologies for use with them; and (3) develop and evaluate assessment techniques, instruments, and strategies used to identify, evaluate, and measure their progress. Requires each such grantee to provide for meaningful involvement of parents, family members, and adult role models in its project.

Subtitle B: Effective Dates - Sets forth effective dates for this title.