The State Education Department / The University of the State of New York / Albany, NY 12234
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
Tel. (518) 474-2714
Fax (518) 474-8802

This is to inform you that the 2008-2009 Application for Federal Funding for the Education of Students with Disabilities and associated application materials are now available at the following web address: www.vesid.nysed.gov/spedfin/. You may now begin to prepare your IDEA budgets/application packet for those federal funds.

The due date of the application is August 31, 2008. This due date will enable the State Education Department (SED) to review and approve, in a timely manner, applications which are fully completed and submitted on time. However, agencies are encouraged to submit this application earlier, if possible. Please note: in accordance with federal rules, LEAs may not obligate funds for a proposed federal grant project until it has been received by SED in a substantially approvable form.

The applicant must use project year funds for Section 611 and Section 619 projects for a 10 or 12-month project operation period beginning no earlier than September 1 and ending no later than August 31 of the following year.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Michael C. Plotzker, Coordinator of the Central Office Administrative Support Services Team (COASST) at (518) 486-4734 or Robert P. Waxman of his staff at (518) 473-6108.

We appreciate your cooperation in this important process.

Enclosures