November 2011 Early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth-3) have been a part of IDEA since 1986. This section of the law is commonly known as Part C of IDEA.** Regulations for Part C What's changed? | OSEP's non-regulatory summary Model IFSP form Training module 1 | The Basics of Early Intervention (new!) How to find early intervention services in your community __________________________________________ Regulations … [Read more...]
Print 
PDFFrequently Asked Questions
October 2010 Why are we not surprised that you have a question on IDEA's HQT requirements? You will no doubt agree that IDEA's provisions on highly qualified special educators are nothing short of...um, complicated? The author of the six FAQs below is none other than Marion Morton Crayton of OSEP itself (the Office of Special Education Programs). The questions and answers are adapted from NICHCY's training package on IDEA 2004, Building the … [Read more...]
Guidance from the U.S. Department of Education
Updated December 2012 The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) at the U.S. Department of Education regularly provides guidance to the field on the nation’s special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). “Guidance” can take several forms: OSEP’s correspondence in response to questions received from the field; policy documents and letters on priority issues; and non-regulatory guidance. All … [Read more...]
RTI cannot be used to delay or deny evaluation
Read OSEP’s memo on RTI and evaluation. Writing to the state directors of special education, OSEP addresses how a RTI process (response to intervention) cannot be used to delay or deny an evaluation for eligibility under IDEA. (updated August 2012) http://www.rti4success.org/resourcetype/memo-response-intervention-rti-process-cannot-be-used-delay-deny-evaluation-eligibility … [Read more...]
Differences in how “disability” is defined in federal laws for children and for adults
This December 2010 report is the Country Report for the United States, written to capture our status at the moment regarding Pathways for Disabled Students to Tertiary Education and Employment. Chapter 1 will give you the ultimate authoritative summation of how the federal laws in the United States define the term “disability.” These definitions have important implications for youths with disabilities as they transition to adulthood and to education, … [Read more...]
What U.S. laws and policies provide “pathways” for students with disabilities to life after high school?
This December 2010 report is the Country Report for the United States, written to capture our status at the moment regarding Pathways for Disabled Students to Tertiary Education and Employment. The title’s a mouthful, but the content is a gold mine. It’s precise and authoritative about the U.S. policies and laws in…well…look at the title again! The report was written through the teaming of multiple federal agencies. Inside you’ll find a … [Read more...]
SSA’s final rules for evaluating endocrine disorders in children and adults
The Social Security Administration published final rules for evaluating endocrine disorders in the Federal Register on April 8, 2011. These are the rules that will be used to evaluate endocrine disorders in both adults and children who apply for, or receive, Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income payments based on disability. These rules will be effective on June 8, 2011, and will remain effective for 5 years, unless … [Read more...]
Frequently asked questions about Section 504 and the education of children with disabilities
This is a guidance document published by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education. As an authoritative source, that can't be beat! Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires a school district to provide a "free appropriate public education" (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Under Section … [Read more...]
Q & A on serving children with disabilities placed by their parents at private schools
This is one of a series of question and answer (Q&A) documents prepared by OSERS at the U.S. Department of Education to address some of the most important issues raised by requests for clarification on a variety of high-interest topics. The IDEA and its implementing regulations contain a number of significant changes for parentally placed private school children with disabilities. This Q&A document supersedes the Department’s guidance … [Read more...]
Rights of students with disabilities when educational institutions use technology
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued guidance to the field through Dear Colleague Letters to elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education. Also issued is a Frequently Asked Questions document on the legal obligation to provide students with disabilities an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of technology. These guidances supplement a June 2010 letter that explained that technological … [Read more...]
