PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION TO CONFORM TO THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT AS AMENDED IN 2004 AND THE FINAL FEDERAL REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT IDEA 2004

A copy of the proposed regulations to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) and the final federal regulations to implement IDEA 2004, commonly known as Part 300 of the Code of Federal Regulations is now available and may be accessed at the following website.

http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/idea/home.html

In addition, the proposed regulations include amendments relating to New York's "Special Education Regulatory Reform" proposal, which was presented to the Board of Regents in November 2004
(www.regents.nysed.gov/2004Meetings/November2004/ 1104emscvesidd2.htm). 
The regulations were discussed at the March Regents meeting and are scheduled for action at the Regents meeting in June 2007. 

The New York State Education Department, Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) will be accepting public comment on the proposed regulations for 45 days (until May 7, 2007) after its publication in the New York State Register on March 21, 2007.  Written public comment on the proposed regulations may be submitted by writing to:  VESID, Special Education Policy, Room 1624, One Commerce Plaza, Albany, New York 12234, Attention L. Luderman.  Comments may also be faxed to 518-473-5387.

In addition to providing written comment, you may also provide oral comment at the three public hearings that have been scheduled as follows:

*   Participants wishing to provide comment between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. must arrive and register no later than 5:30 p.m

·        Pre-registration is not required. 

·        You must bring photo identification and follow sign-in procedures, which may include a security scanning, as required at the door.

·        Individuals may register to comment at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.  Comments can be oral or written.  Written comments that accompany oral remarks are optional.

·        The meeting rooms are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

·        Individuals who need accommodations for a disability in order to attend the meeting (i.e., interpreting services and material in an alternative format) should notify Kathy Vincent, kvincent@mail.nysed.gov, at 518-402-3353 no later than two weeks before the scheduled meeting date. 

Please check the following two VESID websites prior to the meeting dates for additional information and any changes regarding these meetings:

http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/timely.htm
and
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/idea/home.html 

Questions regarding the public hearings may be directed to Ralph Giordano at (518) 486-7462 and questions regarding the proposed regulations may be directed to Lisa Luderman or Alison Conners at (518) 473-2878.