New - Policy Memorandum - A memorandum providing information regarding Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2012: “Protection of People with Special Needs Act” and changes to the requirements for the standards for the protection of day and residential students who attend a residential school is now available.  Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2012 is effective on June 30, 2013.

New - Memorandum of Understanding - A memorandum of understanding between NYSED's ACCES-VR and P-12: Office of Special Education regarding the joint responsibilities of each in the provision of transition services for students with disabilities related to post-school employment is available.

New - Federal Guidance - The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Education have issued a joint letter about the newly-enacted Uninterrupted Scholars Act, which amends the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

New - Public Comment - NYSED proposes to amend the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to conform to federal requirements relating to written notification and parental consent for the use of public benefits or insurance to pay for services under the IDEA. NYSED has scheduled three public hearing sessions to receive comments on the proposed amendments.

New - Public Comment - NYSED is seeking public comment on a revised proposed amendment to establish a New York State Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential for students with disabilities. Written comments on the revised proposed amendment will be accepted for 30 days after its May 8, 2013 publication in the New York State Register.

New - Request for Proposals - The P-12: Office of Special Education is seeking proposals to establish four teams to provide field-based professional development and technical assistance for a Response to Intervention Personnel Development Project (RtI-PDP).  The contracts developed as a result of this RFP will support four regional professional development teams of 2.0 FTE professionals per team or up to four 0.5 FTE which will serve as regional technical assistance centers for the schools identified for participation in the project. 

Memorandum - A memorandum which provides information on a recent amendment to federal regulations relating to a district’s responsibility to obtain parental consent prior to billing Medicaid or other public insurance benefits for special education services is available. 

Memorandum - A memorandum providing the information on the age ranges for students with disabilities participating in the 2013-14 NYSAA is now available from the Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Educational Technology.

Policy Memorandum/Application - A memorandum, which provides updated procedures, forms and policy relating to a school district’s responsibility to submit timely and complete applications for approval of State reimbursement of tuition costs for placements of students with disabilities in out-of-State approved residential programs is now available. 

Application - Information and application materials pertaining to Summer 2013 Special Education Extended School Year Special Education Programs are now available.

Policy Memorandum - The Board of Regents approved for permanent adoption the amendments of sections 200.2 through 200.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to, respectively, the additional parent member of a committee on special education and authorizing electronic access to students’ individualized education programs.

Application - The information and form for the Annual Registration of All Students Classified as Legally Blind for Procurement of Special Media Materials produced by the American Printing House for the Blind are now available.

Policy Memorandum - Effective immediately, the P-12: Office of Special Education is initiating a temporary administrative suspension of the approval of applications for initial approval of preschool special education programs, initial approval of school-age private school programs, and applications for expansions of currently approved preschool special education programs and approved school-age private schools.

Policy Memorandum - The Board of Regents approved the emergency adoption of an amendment to section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, effective October 31, 2012, to provide an additional option for a student with a disability to earn a local diploma through the use of a “compensatory option.”