[Federal Register: June 27, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 124)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 35051-35052] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr27jn97-33] [[Page 35051]] _______________________________________________________________________ Part IX Department of Education _______________________________________________________________________ 34 CFR Part 300 Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997; Proposed Rule [[Page 35052]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 34 CFR Part 300 Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997 AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Notice of request for advice and recommendations on regulatory issues under the IDEA Amendments of 1997. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education (Secretary) solicits advice and recommendations from the public--including persons with disabilities and their representatives; Federal, State, and local education administrators; parents; teachers; and members of local boards of education--prior to publishing proposed regulations to implement programs under the recently enacted IDEA Amendments of 1997. DATES: In order to be assured of consideration in developing the proposed regulations, comments should be received on or before July 28, 1997. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Thomas Irvin, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, Room 4607, Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C St., SW., Washington, DC 20202. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Irvin--Telephone (202) 205-8825 or JoLeta Reynolds--Telephone: (202) 205-5507. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call (202) 205-5465 or the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On June 4, 1997, the President signed into law Pub. L. 105-17, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997, amending the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Enactment of these amendments provides an opportunity to consider improvements in all of the regulations implementing the IDEA, including both formula and discretionary grant programs, that would strengthen the Federal effort to give every child a world-class education based on high standards. Invitation to Comment This request for comments is designed to elicit the views of interested parties on IDEA regulatory issues, particularly persons with disabilities and their representatives; Federal, State, and local education administrators; parents; teachers; and members of local boards of education. The Department will regulate consistent with its Principles for Regulating, under which the Department considers whether regulations are needed to promote quality and equality in educational opportunity, whether a demonstrated problem requires the issuance of regulations, whether regulations are needed to resolve ambiguity, and whether a uniform approach to a situation is appropriate. In developing regulations, the Department's policy will be to provide flexibility and minimize burden to the extent consistent with ensuring the implementation of the protections provided to children with disabilities and their parents by the IDEA. The Department is particularly interested in public input on areas in which regulations are needed to clarify provisions of the statute. The Secretary requests that each commenter identify her or his role in special education, regular education, or early intervention, if any, and the perspective from which she or he views the educational system-- either as a representative of persons with disabilities or of an association, agency, or school (public or private), or as an individual person with a disability, teacher, student, parent, or private citizen. The Secretary urges each commenter to be specific regarding her or his recommendations, including identifying the particular section of IDEA or of the current IDEA regulations pertinent to the comment. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available for public inspection during and after the comment period in Room 4607, Mary E. Switzer Building, 300 C St., SW., Washington, DC, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday of each week except Federal holidays. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 84.027, Assistance to States for Education of Children with Disabilities) Dated: June 23, 1997. Richard W. Riley, Secretary of Education. [FR Doc. 97-16796 Filed 6-26-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-P