American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Federal Quota Program
Federal Quota Program Overview
The Federal Quota Program was initiated in 1879 by the Federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind. This program is a means whereby a per capita amount of money is designated for the purchase of educational materials for each eligible student registered through an established Federal Quota account. The system through which these specialized materials are distributed is known as the Federal Quota Program. Through it, textbooks and instructional aides are provided free for eligible students who are blind and visually impaired in educational settings that range from early intervention programs for visually impaired infants to rehabilitation for older adults who have age-related vision loss, from center-based and residential school programs to the regular classroom. Note that there is no chronological age limitation for Federal Quota registration.
How does the Federal Quota Program work?
As prescribed by the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind, Congress makes an annual appropriation for the provision of the special Federal Quota materials. This appropriation is divided by the total number of eligible students registered in educational programs on the first Monday of the preceding January and of adult clients enrolled in rehabilitation and/or vocational programs during the preceding calendar year. This division results in a per capita amount of money that is then multiplied by the number of eligible students in each Federal Quota account. The resulting total is credited to each respective account, thus establishing each agency’s annual “Quota” funds. By law, the sole use of Quota funds is for the purchase of APH materials for registered students and adults. These Federal Quota accounts are maintained and administered by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and its Ex Officio Trustees.
The first step in delivering federal quota funds is the required annual census of eligible students. This census is in three phases. Our APH Census Registration Instructions document outlines the process of registering students for this program.
Who is eligible?
To determine who is eligible for Federal Quota materials, an annual national census is taken. The effective date of this registration is the first Monday in January of each year for infants, preschool, and school-aged students.
How are eligible students counted?
To determine who is eligible for Federal Quota materials, an annual national census is taken. The effective date of this registration is the first Monday in January of each year for infants, preschool, and school-aged students.
Ex Officio Trustees (EOTs) are responsible for collecting, compiling, and submitting to APH, via the Student Registration System (SRS), the annual census of eligible students. LEAs and agencies select their designee to complete the digital paperwork for the APH Federal Quota Census count in Wisconsin. In the Act to Promote Education of the Blind for the APH Federal Quota Program, information is to be obtained through an LEA or other organization rather than through individual teachers. APH EOTs are obligated to send the APH information via the LEAs rather than directly to TVIs.
Messaging regarding the Annual Census is shared via our WCBVI Outreach Weekly Updates (which TVIs, LEAs, SEDs and agency leads can sign up for) as well as the DPI Division for Learning Support (DLS) Newsletter (which all the LEAs and SEDs receive weekly). We also email the LEAs and SEDs directly with the initial information and a reminder to complete the designation.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR APH FEDERAL QUOTA MATERIALS FROM WCBVI
AEM CENTER, STUDENTS MUST BE REGISTERED ON THE WISCONSIN APH FEDERAL QUOTA CENSUS EACH YEAR.
Please send your questions and inquiries about the APH Federal Quota Program to aphcensus@wcbvi.k12.wi.us.