---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1453"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1453"
heading: "Applications"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1453"
units:
  - "Chapter 33 — Education of Individuals with Disabilities"
  - "Subchapter IV — National Activities to Improve Education of Children with Disabilities"
  - "Part A — State Personnel Development Grants"
---

# §1453. Applications

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Submission—** A [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) that desires to receive a grant under this part shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/20/1401.md?p=28) an application at such time, in such manner, and including such information as the [Secretary](/usc/20/1401.md?p=28) may require.
  - (2) **State plan—** The application shall include a plan that identifies and addresses the [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) and local needs for the [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) preparation and professional development of [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b), as well as individuals who provide direct [supplementary aids and services](/usc/20/1401.md?p=33) to children with disabilities, and that—
    - (A) is designed to enable the [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) to meet the requirements of [section 1412(a)(14) of this title](/usc/20/1412.md?p=a-14) and [section 1435(a)(8)](/usc/20/1435.md?p=a-8) and (9) of this title;
    - (B) is based on an assessment of [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) and local needs that identifies critical aspects and areas in need of improvement related to the preparation, ongoing training, and professional development of [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) who serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children with disabilities within the [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31), including—
      - (i) current and anticipated [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) vacancies and shortages; and
      - (ii) the number of preservice and inservice programs; and
    - (C) is integrated and aligned, to the maximum extent possible, with [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) plans and activities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [[20 U.S.C. 6301](/usc/20/6301.md) et seq.], the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 [[29 U.S.C. 701](/usc/29/701.md) et seq.], and the Higher Education Act of 1965 [[20 U.S.C. 1001](/usc/20/1001.md) et seq.].
  - (3) **Requirement—** The [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) application shall contain an assurance that the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) will carry out each of the strategies described in [subsection (b)(4)](#b-4).
- (b) **Elements of State personnel development plan—** Each [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) development plan under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) shall—
  - (1) describe a partnership agreement that is in effect for the period of the grant, which agreement shall specify—
    - (A) the nature and extent of the partnership described in [section 1452(b) of this title](/usc/20/1452.md?p=b) and the respective roles of each member of the partnership, including the partner described in [section 1452(b)(3) of this title](/usc/20/1452.md?p=b-3) if applicable; and
    - (B) how the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) will work with other persons and organizations involved in, and concerned with, the education of children with disabilities, including the respective roles of each of the persons and organizations;
  - (2) describe how the strategies and activities described in [paragraph (4)](#b-4) will be coordinated with activities supported with other public resources (including part B [subchapter II] and part C [subchapter III] funds retained for use at the [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) level for [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) and professional development purposes) and private resources;
  - (3) describe how the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) will align its [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) development plan under this part with the plan and application submitted under sections 1111 and [2101(d)](/usc/20/2101.md), respectively, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [[20 U.S.C. 6311](/usc/20/6311.md), 6611(d)];
  - (4) describe those strategies the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) will use to address the professional development and [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) needs identified under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) and how such strategies will be implemented, including—
    - (A) a description of the programs and activities to be supported under this part that will provide [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) with the knowledge and skills to meet the needs of, and improve the performance and achievement of, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children with disabilities; and
    - (B) how such strategies will be integrated, to the maximum extent possible, with other activities supported by grants funded under [section 1462 of this title](/usc/20/1462.md);
  - (5) provide an assurance that the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) will provide technical assistance to [local educational agencies](/usc/20/1401.md?p=19-A) to improve the quality of professional development available to meet the needs of [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) who serve children with disabilities;
  - (6) provide an assurance that the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) will provide technical assistance to entities that provide services to infants and toddlers with disabilities to improve the quality of professional development available to meet the needs of [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) serving such children;
  - (7) describe how the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) will recruit and retain teachers who meet the qualifications described in [section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title](/usc/20/1412.md?p=a-14-C) and other qualified [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b) in geographic areas of greatest need;
  - (8) describe the steps the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) will take to ensure that poor and minority children are not taught at higher rates by teachers who do not meet the qualifications described in [section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title](/usc/20/1412.md?p=a-14-C); and
  - (9) describe how the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) will assess, on a regular basis, the extent to which the strategies implemented under this part have been effective in meeting the performance goals described in [section 1412(a)(15) of this title](/usc/20/1412.md?p=a-15).
- (c) **Peer review—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/1401.md?p=28) shall use a panel of experts who are competent, by virtue of their training, expertise, or experience, to evaluate applications for grants under [section 1451(c)(1) of this title](/usc/20/1451.md?p=c-1).
  - (2) **Composition of panel—** A majority of a panel described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1) shall be composed of individuals who are not employees of the Federal Government.
  - (3) **Payment of fees and expenses of certain members—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/1401.md?p=28) may use available funds appropriated to carry out this part to pay the expenses and fees of panel members who are not employees of the Federal Government.
- (d) **Reporting procedures—** Each [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) that receives a grant under this part shall submit annual performance reports to the [Secretary](/usc/20/1401.md?p=28). The reports shall—
  - (1) describe the progress of the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) in implementing its plan;
  - (2) analyze the effectiveness of the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32)’s activities under this part and of the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32)’s strategies for meeting its goals under [section 1412(a)(15) of this title](/usc/20/1412.md?p=a-15); and
  - (3) identify changes in the strategies used by the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32) and described in [subsection (b)(4)](#b-4), if any, to improve the [State educational agency](/usc/20/1401.md?p=32)’s performance.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 653, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2768; amended Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, §§ 9214(d)(3), 9215(ss)(7), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2165, 2183.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(C), is Pub. L. 89–10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27, which is classified generally to chapter 70 (§ 6301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6301 of this title and Tables.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(C), is Pub. L. 93–112, Sept. 26, 1973, 87 Stat. 355, which is classified generally to chapter 16 (§ 701 et seq.) of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 701 of Title 29 and Tables.

The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(C), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219, which is classified generally to chapter 28 (§ 1001 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of this title and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1453, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 653, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 125, related to grant applications, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446.

Another prior section 1453, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 653, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 187; Pub. L. 94–142, § 6(b), Nov. 29, 1975, 89 Stat. 795; Pub. L. 99–386, title II, § 204, Aug. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 823, related to establishment and operation of centers on educational media and materials for handicapped, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–457, title III, § 316, Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1171.

### Amendments

2015—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(ss)(7), substituted “and 2101(d),” for “and 2112,”.

Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9214(d)(3)(A), substituted “teachers who meet the qualifications described in section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title” for “highly qualified teachers”.

Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9214(d)(3)(B), substituted “teachers who do not meet the qualifications described in section 1412(a)(14)(C) of this title” for “teachers who are not highly qualified”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.