IDEA Reauthorization

CEASD Encourages Members to Attend IDEA Public Meetings

John H. Hager, assistant secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), U.S. Department of Education, has announced a series of public meetings to be held in June and July. The purpose of the meetings is to seek input and suggestions on proposed rules under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. When the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) is published, CEASD will develop a list of talking points members can use during these meetings, so check back to this web site frequently. CEASD encourages all who are interested to attend these public meetings and let your views be known. For more information contact the CEASD Government Relations Liaison Barbara Raimondo at baraimondo@earthlink.net.

OSERS will provide specific location information through the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to be published in the Federal Register in the Spring of 2005. Individuals can register to comment at the door, on a first-come first-served basis. Individuals can provide oral and written comments at the meetings; written comments that accompany oral remarks are optional.

Written comments or suggestions can also be submitted electronically to:

comments@ed.gov

or mailed to:

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Potomac Center Plaza, Room 5126
Washington, DC, 20202-2641

Questions can be directed to OSERS' main number, 202-245-7468, or, if a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) is needed, individuals may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

For a copy of the law and other pertinent information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 Web page.