PRIVATE SCHOOLS INVITATION LETTER

TO: Principals, Private Schools

FROM: Mary N. Watson, Director
 Exceptional Children Division
 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

DATE: January 4, 2005

RE: Annual Registration of Legally Blind Students/Ordering Materials

Your school is requested to participate in the annual Federal Quota Registration of Blind Students. This registration establishes the number of students with legal blindness and is used to calculate the amount of Federal Quota Funds designated for the purchase of educational materials for these students. Students in public schools and private schools are eligible to participate in this program. Additional information on the Federal Quota Program is found at http://www.aph.org/fedquotpgm/fedquota.htm.

Information concerning the 2004 Registration is attached in Microsoft Word format. Please read the directions carefully as some of the information has changed. Then fill out the registration form and return it electronically or by mail. The deadline for returning the information is Friday, February 18, 2005. Send the completed form via email to twinton@dpi.state.nc.us or to:

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Exceptional Children Division
6356 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-6356
ATTN: Tom Winton

The appropriated amount for last year was approximately $240.00 per student; this year's amount is yet to be determined by the federal government. These Quota Funds, administered by the Consultant for Visually Impaired (Tom Winton) in the Exceptional Children Division, are used to purchase materials from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). No funds come directly to schools; however, the APH maintains separate charge accounts for public schools and private schools in North Carolina.

To obtain materials, the principal or his/her designee must write a letter to Mr. Winton requesting APH materials. Information on the requested materials must be typed or written on the attached federal quota order form, stating catalog numbers, quantity needed, descriptions of items and prices. Mr. Winton then processes the federal quota order. Materials are shipped directly to the school or agency. Information on these materials is found in the APH Products Catalog, the APH Adult Life Catalog and the APH Catalog of Accessible Books. Copies of each catalog may be obtained at no charge by calling APH at 1.800.223.1829.

Non-consumable supplies and equipment remain the property of the State of North Carolina and must be returned when no longer needed. Materials in good condition are re-issued to other schools or agencies. An inventory must be maintained of all equipment purchased and on loan through Quota Funds. All unused materials should be sent to the Visually Impaired Resource Center, 335 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27601 and can be mailed "FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND." Schools should tag braillers and other equipment purchased through Quota Funds.

If you have any questions or need assistance in completing the registration, please contact Mr. Winton at 919.807.3988. Thank you for participating in this registration to increase access to instructional materials for students with legal blindness.

MNW/tw