The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is keeping parents, teachers, administrators, government officials, researchers, grantees, advocates and individuals with disabilities informed about the changes in the law and their implementation. Each memoranda and letter to the field will be posted here.

July 1, 1998
Letter to Chief State School Officers providing a status report on the final regulations for IDEA'97.
PDF (20K)

July 1, 1998
Letter to Directors of Parent Training Institutes providing a status report on the final regulations for IDEA'97.
PDF (18K)

April 28, 1998 OSEP Memorandum
(OSEP 98-8) to Chief State School Officers and Directors of Special Education entitled: Effective Date of the New IEP Requirements.
PDF (18K)

February 26, 1998 OSEP Memorandum
(OSEP 98-4) to Interested Parties entitled: Guidance Related to State Program Improvement Grant to Improve Education For Children with Disabilities.
PDF (37K)

February 20, 1998 OSEP Memorandum
(OSEP 98-3) to Chief State School Officers entitled: Procedures for States to Follow in order to receive a Grant Award under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), for Federal fiscal year 1998.
PDF (115K)

February 9, 1998 Letter
From Office of Special Education Programs' Director Thomas Hehir, to State special education directors and to local education directors highlighting positive trends in the education of students with disabilities, and encouraging directors to share how 1997 funds are being used to benefit students with disabilities in their States.
PDF (15K)

September 29, 1997 Letter
To Chief State School Officers from OSERS Assistant Secretary Judith E. Heumann and Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Assistant Secretary Norma Cantu that highlights the importance of including students with disabilities in statewide assessment systems.
PDF (20K)

September 19, 1997 OSEP Memorandum
(OSEP 97-7) To Chief State School Officers from OSERS Assistant Secretary Judith E. Heumann and OSEP Director Thomas Hehir entitled: Initial Disciplinary Guidance Related to Removal of Children with Disabilities from their Current Educational Placement for Ten School Days or Less.
PDF (31K)

August 12, 1997 Letter
To State Directors from OSEP/Monitoring and State Improvement Program Division Director, Ruth Ryder, further outlining the 1997-1998 Monitoring Cycle.
PDF (16K)

July 28, 1997 Letter
To State Directors from OSEP Director Thomas Hehir on the 1997-1998 Monitoring Cycle.
PDF (12K)

July 11, 1997 Letter
To State Directors from OSEP Director Thomas Hehir which provides an overview of OSEP's implementation activities.
PDF (13K)

July 2, 1997 Letter
To OSEP grantees from OSEP/Research to Practice Division Director, Louis Danielson on the changes in the IDEA Amendments which relate to the discretionary grant program.
PDF (17K)

June 17, 1997 OSEP Memorandum
(OSEP 97-5) To Chief State School Officers from OSEP Director Thomas Hehir entitled: "Changes in Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as Required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendment of 1997".
PDF (74K)

June 12, 1997 OSEP Memorandum
To Chief State School Officers and Lead Agency Directors from OSEP Director Thomas Hehir entitled: "Timeline for Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997.
PDF (17K)