New York State Education Department, Office of Special Education

The New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of Special Education has scheduled three public hearings to seek public comment on proposed amendments to Part 200 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to special education programs and services for students with disabilities. The purpose of the proposed amendment is to provide mandate relief to schools in certain areas of special education that exceed federal requirements; conform State regulations to federal regulations (34 CFR Part 300) that implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and State Law; and correct certain cross citations.

repealing the minimum service delivery requirements for speech and language;

authorizing school districts to add up to two additional students to integrated co-teaching classes; and

repealing the requirement that each student with autism receive instructional services to meet his/her individual language needs at a minimum of 30 minutes daily in groups not to exceed two, or 60 minutes daily in groups not to exceed six.

The proposed amendment would also conform State regulations to federal requirements relating to meeting notice and parent participation in CSE meetings and to State statutory language relating to district plans of service for special education.

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/specialed/timely.htm

Written public comment on the proposed regulations will be accepted for 45-days after its publication in the August 18, 2010 issue of the NYS Register (must be received by October 4, 2010). Written comments may be submitted to: New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of Special Education, Room 1624, One Commerce Plaza, Albany, New York 12234, Attention: Public Comment - Proposed Regulations. Comments may also be faxed to 518-473-5387 or emailed to

spedpubliccomment@mail.nysed.gov. We request that written public comment be provided using the Public Comment Submission Sheet.

http://www.gvboces.org/directions.cfm

Albany

September 15, 2010

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

VESID - Adult Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Albany District Office

80 Wolf Road

Suite 200, Second Floor

Albany, NY 12205

Room Capacity: 50 (approx.)

http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/albany/directions.htm

New York City*

September 16, 2010

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

VESID - Adult Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Manhattan District Office

116 West 32nd Street

5th Floor Conference Room

New York, NY 10001

Room Capacity: 50 (approx.)

http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/manhattan/directions.htm

* The Leroy and New York City public hearings will be conducted by videoconference.

Pre-registration is not required.

The meeting rooms are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Individuals who need accommodations for a disability in order to attend the meeting (i.e., interpreting services and/or material in an alternative format) should notify Tim Knapik at (518) 486-7462 no later than two weeks before the scheduled meeting date.

You must bring photo identification and follow sign-in procedures, which may include a security scanning, as required at the door.

Individuals may register to provide comment at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. Comments can be oral or written. Written comments that accompany oral remarks are optional.

Participants wishing to provide comment between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. must arrive and register no later than 4:30 p.m.

http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/specialed/timely.htm

Questions regarding the public hearings may be directed to Tim Knapik at (518) 486-7462 and questions regarding the proposed regulations may be directed to Alison Conners or Suzanne Corey at (518) 473-2878.

The public hearing sessions are scheduled as follows:

The proposed amendment would provide mandate relief and appropriate flexibility for committees on special education (CSE) to make special education recommendations based on students' individual needs by:

Announcement of Public Hearings