From Saundra M. Gumerove and her great blog Advokids:
"To be an effective advocate for your child it is important for you to be familiar with the IDEA, the 2004 amendments to the IDEA and how the proposed regulations will impact existing practice, the delivery of services and the discipline of children with disabilities. To download the unofficial proposed regulations, go to http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004.html.
In December 2003 President Bush signed the 2004 IDEA Amendments which will become effective July 1, 2005 — next month. The US Department of Education just announced the proposed regulations (see article below) for which the comment period ends 75 days after publication in the Federal Register. The proposed regulations are expected to be published in the Federal Register this week or next.
Regulations implement a statute; that is, the regulations fill in the blanks in a law and specify how the law should be carried out. The 2004 IDEA Amendments make many changes to the existing IDEA. From the definition of “parent” (to include foster parents, grandparents, guardians appointed by the Court), to changes in discipline procedures, to providing for a mediation process when parents and the school district do not agree, to coordinating the IDEA with the No Child Left Behind Act — there are many areas that will affect the delivery of services to children with disabilities.
In future posts I will be examining the impact of the implementation of the 2004 IDEA amendments and its impact on our children, as well as, reviewing the proposed regulations."
I have asked Saundra to guest blog on this subject. Watch for more on the 2004 IDEA amendments soon.