D Releases Long-Awaited Final Rules on Part B of IDEA 2004

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), U.S. Department of Education, has released an unofficial copy of the long-awaited final regulations on Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) 2004. The final regulations can be found at OSERS' web site at www.ed.gov/idea. The official copy of the final regulations is scheduled to be published in the August 14, 2006 Federal Register, and the regulations become effective 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

ASHA has mobilized a Member Advisory Group and a National Office staff team, which are in the process of conducting a thorough analysis of the final regulations which consists of 1705 pages, which will address the impact on the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology. Continue to check ASHA's IDEA Information Center website at www.asha.org/about/legislation-advocacy/federal/idea/ for further updates and an analysis of the final regulations.

For more information on this contact Catherine D. Clarke, ASHA's Director of Education and Regulatory Advocacy at, at 800-498-2071 ext. 4159 or via email at cclarke@asha.org.