• Department of Education Releases Model Forms for IEP, Procedural Safeguards, Prior Written Notice
• Institute for Education Sciences Seeks Input on Research Agenda

Department of Education Releases Model Forms for IEP, Procedural Safeguards, Prior Written Notice

In accordance with IDEA 2004, the Department of Education has released model forms to help states and local education agencies in developing individualized education programs (IEP), procedural safeguard communications and prior written notice communications. Congress had required the Department to issue such model forms in the reauthorization of IDEA to ensure that these communications are consistent with the requirements under Part B of IDEA.

The model forms for the IEP, procedural safeguard notification and prior written notice communications provide states and localities with sample documents that can be used to ensure compliance with IDEA 2004.

On August 14, the Department published the official final IDEA regulations for Part B in the Federal Register, enabling schools to implement IDEA 2004 for the entire 2006-2007 school year. This action followed a preliminary release of the final regulations by the Department of Education earlier this month. (See August 3 Policy Update) While CEC is pleased that the Department has released the Part B regulations, CEC continues to urge the Department to release the proposed regulations on early intervention for infants and toddlers and the final regulations for the Multi-Year IEP and Paperwork Reduction Pilot Programs. CEC is currently working on developing an analysis of the final Part B regulations and will provide its members with this information in a future update.

View the model forms.

Read CEC's Press Release on the IDEA 2004 Regulations

Read CEC's Public Policy update on the IDEA 2004 Regulations

Read the IDEA 2004 Regulations

Institute for Education Sciences Seeks Input on Research Agenda

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) -- the research arm of the Department of Education -- is seeking public comment on its plan for addressing long-term research priorities, including research related to students with disabilities and gifts and talents. Last fall, IES finalized its research priorities, which included many of CEC's recommendations that were submitted during the public commenting period. Among these were CEC’s recommendation that the priorities explicitly recognize all children and their families as clients for IES research, including those from birth through 21; IES expand beyond the academic domain to include functional, developmental and transitional domains; and that IES consider the significance of family involvement in the education and early intervention of children with disabilities. Now, as IES is seeking public comment on its plan to carry out its research priorities, CEC would like feedback from its members as CEC prepares to submit its comments on the plan. Please submit your comments to CEC by August 28 by emailing pubpol@cec.sped.org

To read IES' research priorities, visit: http://ies.ed.gov/director/board/priorities.asp

To read IES' notice in the Federal Register soliciting public comment on its research plan, visit: http://ies.ed.gov/director/fedreg.asp.