ANSWER:

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) projects are funded through Maryland State Department of Education grants.  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Local Priority Flexibility Funds––Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an MSDE-approved project. The goal of the project is to build the capacity of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) staff to use best practices to support the creation of UDL teams. The budget of $21,168 supports collaborative UDL planning to meet diverse needs, hands-on practice with tools that support instruction, and the development of curriculum materials.

MCPS also won the Expanding Bridges competitive grant from MSDE with a budget of $667,596.  The funds will support a two-year project that includes several components, including a focus on differentiation through the establishment of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).  The PLCs will serve as a venue for providing professional development in the use of UDL principles.  PLCs focused on implementation of UDL practices will be established at four elementary and two middle schools during the 2012–2013 school year and expand to additional schools in the second year of the project.