The U.S. Department of Education announced a revised schedule of public meetings in seven cities after the IDEA 2004 regulations are published in June. The purpose of these meetings is to get input on the proposed regulations.

Note: When the proposed regulations are published, we will send an Alert to newsletter subscribers that includes a link (or links) to the proposed regulations.

You need to read these regulations. They will have a profound impact on how children with disabilities are educated. If you want a regulation changed or think a regulation is not clear, you need to advise the Department of Education about the specific changes you want made and why. To learn more about this process, please read IDEA 2004: Regulations on Fast Track
and How to Make a Public Comment.

Location, Site, Date, Times

Nashville, TN
Joe and Faye Wyatt Center for Education
1930 South Drive
Peabody College, Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN 37203
Friday, June 17, 2005, 1:00-4:00p.m., 5:00-7:00p.m.

Sacramento, CA
John F. Kennedy High School
6715 Gloria Drive
Sacramento, CA 95831
Wednesday, June 22, 2005, 1:00-4:00p.m., 5:00-7:00p.m.

Las Vegas, NV
Donald C. Moyer Student Union
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 Maryland Pkwy.
Las Vegas, NV 89154
Friday, June 24, 2005, 1:00-4:00p.m., 5:00-7:00p.m.

New York, NY
W Hotel of New York
Forest 1 Room
541 Lexington Avenue (Between 49th and 50th Street)
New York, NY 10022
Monday, June 27, 2005, 1:00-4:00p.m., 5:00-7:00p.m.

Chicago, IL
The Palmer House Hilton
Red Lacquer Room
17 E. Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603
Wednesday, June 29, 2005, 1:00-4:00p.m., 5:00-7:00p.m.

San Antonio, TX (Changed)
Education Service Center, Region 20
1314 Hines Avenue
San Antonio, TX 78208
Thursday, July 7, 2005, 1:00-4:00p.m., 5:00-7:00p.m.

Washington, DC
Gallaudet University
Kellogg Conference Center
800 Florida Ave, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002
Tuesday, July 12, 2005, 1:00-4:00p.m., 5:00-7:00p.m.

How to Make a Comment
You can register to comment at the door, on a first-come first-served basis. You can provide oral and written comments about the proposed regulations at the meetings. You may provide written comments to accompany oral remarks if you wish.

If you are interested in making a comment, we encourage you to read IDEA Regulations on Fast Track, Expected in Early June. In this interview, Dr. Troy Justesen, Acting Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), describes the process for public comment, timelines, and issues that have elicited concerns.

You can also submit written comments or suggestions about the proposed regulations.

Submit written comments electronically to comments@ed.gov

Send comments by mail 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

If you have questions, call (202) 245-7468 (main number of Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services) If you need a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

IDEA 2004: More Info
For a copy of the law and other information, visit the U.S. Department of Education's Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 page at:
www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004.html

IDEA 2004: Overview, Explanation & Comparison

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004: Overview, Explanation and Comparison of IDEA 2004 & IDEA 97 by Peter W. D. Wright, Esq. describes the substantive changes to the five key statutes of IDEA 2004 by section and subsection. Text added to IDEA 2004 is in italics. Text deleted from IDEA 97 has been struck through.

We are using this publication in our training programs. as a supplement to Wrightslaw: Special Education Law and Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy. If you have a copy of Wrightslaw: Special Education Law or Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, we encourage you to download and print this publication and attach it to your book.

Download IDEA 2004: Overview, Explanation & Comparison (56 pages)
URL: https://www.wrightslaw.com/idea/idea.2004.all.pdf

Publications, Reports & Position Papers

Many legal, educational and disability organizations are publishing reports about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004). The IDEA 2004 Publications, Reports & Resources Page includes links to these reports and publications.

Coming Soon! Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004

Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004 is a new publication by Peter and Pamela Wright that includes the full text of Parts A and B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004), commentary, discussion of the new statute, strategies and cross-references.

Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004 will be available as a print publication and in an electronic format in July 2005. The format, layout, and statutory explanations are similar to Wrightslaw: Special Education Law.

Subscribers to The Special Ed Advocate newsletter will receive an advance notice by email when the publication is available, before Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004 is available to the public.