Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

10th Congress Adopted Congress resolution No. 10-38, Special Ed Funding

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): July 16, 1997
-Congress Speaker Jack Fritz transmitted to President Jacob Nena a
copy of Congress Resolution No. 10-38, approving an application
submitted to the U.S. Department of Education for the purpose of
obtaining funding for special education programs in the FSM.

The U.S. Congress reestablished funding for Special Education
Programs for Fiscal Years 1997 and 1998 for Pacific Island Entities
which was defunded in 1995.

A total funding of $4,600,000, for the period of June, 1997,
through September, 1999, is to be awarded to applicants on a
competitive basis following assessment of need and evaluation of
grant applications.

The Special Education Program Coordinator Makir Keller said, in
the June 1997 issue of Educational Current published by
the FSM Department of Education, that FSM’s eligibility was built
into the legislation signed by President Clinton and will continue to
year 2001, under Part “B” and Part “D” staff development and training
of new service providers.

Under its current plan, FSM will resume the provision of direct
services. Small amount would be used for staff development, parent
trainings, teacher certification and local capacity building efforts.

FSM will continue the instruction, development of special teaching
materials, school supplies and such related services as physical
therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy.

Once the amount for FSM is known, the distribution of the states’
shares will be computed based on the State Plans, Keller concluded.