Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center We are a U.S Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs funded project that helps build the capacity of State Education Agencies and Lead Agencies in improving programs and services for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. The MPRRC is part of Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE), which is the technical assistance division of the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University.
The Assessment System for K-12 Interpreters has now joined the Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center as part of the Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE). Check out the new ASK-12 Website.
About the MPRRC Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center (MPRRC) is one of six Regional Resource Centers and is part of the Federal and Regional Resource Center Network (RRFC), which provides services to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Trust Territories, and the schools of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
The MPRRC serves Arizona, the Bureau of Indian Education, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The entire network is part of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), which is part of the U.S. Department of Education. The MPRRC is one project within the Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education Center (TAESE).
The RRCs are funded through and directed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): "... Each regional resource center shall provide consultations, technical assistance, and training to State educational agencies and through such State educational agencies to local educational agencies and to other appropriate State agencies providing special education, related services, and early intervention services." The MPRRC assists State and local education agencies in developing quality programs and services for children with disabilities and their families by doing the following: - Keeping abreast of the most recent developments in special education research and practice
- Assisting in the adoption of new techniques and practices
- Identifying and analyzing persistent problems
- Linking those with similar needs or problems and assisting in the development of solutions
- Gathering and disseminating information as well as coordinating activities with other related centers or projects
- Assisting in training activities
- Providing relevant and correct information
- Providing assistance with applications for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements
The MPRRC engages in a variety of activities as it provides assistance. Typically included among assistance activities are those listed below: - Direct technical assistance with States, Lead Agencies, schools, and parents
- Workshops and conferences for State education staff, local education staff, teachers, and parents
- Development and dissemination of special education materials
- Expert consultation on critical issues confronting State and local special educators
Technical assistance provided to the States is determined through the State special education directors and finalized in Technical Assistance Agreements. These agreements spell out, in considerable detail, what activities will be conducted. Information about technical assistance activities are available on-line as part of OSEP's Matrix project. Information requests are available on the FRC web portal. The MPRRC's newsletters, and additional materials are located on this site. The MPRRC contract is administered through Utah State University in Logan, Utah. The MPRRC is part of the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State. |
