text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Autism Understanding and Training in 
  School Methodologies for Educators Act of 2012''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      The Congress finds as follows:
              (1) Autism is a group of complex developmental brain 
          disorders collectively referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders 
          (ASDs) that can cause a wide range of symptoms, skills, and 
          levels of impairment including social, communication and 
          behavior changes.
              (2) Autism spectrum disorders are also referred to as 
          pervasive developmental disorders and include subcategories of 
          classic autism with ranges from high functioning autism (HFA) 
          to low functioning autism, Asperger syndrome, and pervasive 
          developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), as 
          well as more severe cases of Rhett Syndrome and Child 
          Disintegrative Disorder.
              (3) Autism affects an estimated 1 in 88 children by age 8 
          and 1 in 54 boys.
              (4) An estimated 1,500,000 individuals in the United States 
          are affected by autism.
              (5) More children will be diagnosed with autism this year 
          than with AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined.
              (6) Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental 
          disability in the United States.
              (7) Autism costs the Nation over $35,000,000,000 per year, 
          a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade.
              (8) Boys are five times more likely than girls to have 
          autism.
              (9) There is currently no medical cure for autism, but 
          there are evidence-based educational methods proven to be 
          effective in improving outcomes for students with autism and 
          research demonstrating the benefits of routine and consistency.
              (10) The least restrictive environment for educating 
          students with autism spectrum disorder, including, but not 
          limited to, students with high functioning autism, Asperger 
          syndrome, and PDD-NOS, often is best achieved by enrollment in 
          a general education classroom with proper support.
              (11) General education classroom teachers and staff often 
          are not adequately trained to work effectively with students 
          with autism spectrum disorders, who have a wide diversity of 
          characteristics, although such skills may be attained through 
          qualified training programs and may be relatively easy to 
          implement in school settings.
              (12) Training general education classroom teachers and 
          staff to implement evidence-based practices for educating 
          students with autism spectrum disorders with accuracy and 
          fidelity will help provide for best possible outcomes not only 
          for students with autism, but also for other students in the 
          classroom.
              (13) Children with autism in highly transient families, 
          such as the military (where the rate of children on the 
          spectrum is even higher) and foreign service families, often 
          face additional challenges in the public education system 
          because of frequent changes in the family's geographic duty 
          station or a parent's deployment, which can interrupt the 
          provision of appropriate interventions and continuity of 
          effective educational methods.
              (14) In school districts that have a large population of 
          transient families or that border military bases it is 
          especially important to have staff who are highly trained to 
          provide effective services and build a proven track record of 
          academic achievement in serving students with autism.
  
  SEC. 3. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
  
      (a) Authorization of Grant Program.--The Secretary is authorized to 
  carry out a demonstration grant program to award grants to eligible 
  entities to enable such entities to accomplish the purposes described 
  in subsection (b).
      (b) Purposes.--A grant provided under this section shall be used 
  for the following purposes within schools providing education to 
  children in grades pre-kindergarten through 12:
              (1) Providing evidence-based, in-service training to 
          teachers, paraprofessionals, and other staff on effective ways 
          to teach, communicate, recognize, support, and interact with 
          children with autism spectrum disorder in the classroom and 
          related school settings. Training on providing effective 
          support includes but is not limited to academic support, 
          behavioral support, communication support, social emotional 
          support, and facilitating positive peer interactions and social 
          skills.
              (2) Providing technical assistance consisting of 
          consultation on the type of training needed, hands-on 
          opportunities to practice and perform newly acquired skills and 
          methodologies with fidelity, and post-training support to 
          ensure accuracy of implementation in the classroom.
              (3) Executing strategies for recruiting and retaining 
          skilled personnel participating in the education of children 
          with autism spectrum disorders.
              (4) Implementing a program of parental support and 
          involvement in the education of students with autism spectrum 
          disorders.
      (c) Duration of Grants.--A grant provided under this section shall 
  be--
              (1) for a period of not more than 5 years, of which not 
          more than the first 2 years shall be used for planning; and
              (2) subject to annual approval by the Secretary and subject 
          to the availability of appropriations for the fiscal year 
          involved.
      (d) Limitation on Administrative Costs.--An eligible entity may use 
  not more than 20 percent of the funds received under this section for 
  the administrative costs of carrying out its responsibilities under 
  this section.
      (e) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
  section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the 
  Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
  as the Secretary may require.
      (f) Report.--The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the 
  demonstration program authorized by this section and, not later than 1 
  year after the date of the completion of the demonstration program, 
  shall prepare and submit to the President and the Congress a report on 
  such evaluation, together with recommendations for dissemination and 
  replication of the results of the program.
      (g) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
              (1) The term ``autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)'' refers to 
          complex disorders of brain development that can affect 
          individuals with varying degrees from mild to severe, and is 
          characterized by a combination of restricted repetitive and 
          stereotyped behaviors, interests and activities; qualitative 
          impairments in social interactions; and qualitative impairments 
          in verbal and nonverbal communication.
              (2) The term ``eligible entity'' means an eligible local 
          educational agency, or a consortia of such agencies, in 
          partnership with--
                      (A) one or more institutions of higher education; 
                  or
                      (B) one or more nonprofit educational entities with 
                  documented expertise in working with children with 
                  autism.
              (3) The term ``eligible local educational agency'' means a 
          local educational agency that has no less than 10 percent of 
          its special education population identified with autism 
          spectrum disorders, including, but not limited to, high 
          functioning autism, Asperger syndrome, and PDD-NOS, and have 
          documented a growth pattern in the number of these students.
              (4) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
          meaning given such term in section 102 of the Higher Education 
          Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
              (5) The term ``local educational agency'' has the meaning 
          given the term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
          Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
              (6) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
          Education.
target: Autism Understanding and Training in School Methodologies for Educators Act of 2012 - Authorizes the Secretary of Education to carry out a demonstration program to award five-year grants to eligible local education agencies for the following purposes in schools for children in grades pre-kindergarten through 12: (1) providing training to teachers, paraprofessionals, and other staff on effective ways to teach, communicate, recognize, support, and interact with children with autism spectrum disorders in the classroom; (2) providing technical assistance consisting of consultation on the type of training needed, hands-on opportunities to practice and perform newly acquired skills and methodologies, and post-training support to ensure accuracy of implementation in the classroom; (3) executing strategies for recruiting and retaining skilled personnel participating in the education of children with such disorders; and (4) implementing a program of parental support and involvement in the education of students with such disorders.
feat_title: To establish a 5-year demonstration program to provide skills to classroom teachers and staff who work with children with autism spectrum disorders.