In May the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights released two new "Dear Colleague" letters.  One is a follow up to an earlier letter and provides a question and answer regarding the use of e-readers by students with disabilities. The other discusses the rights of children of immigrants, with and without disabilities, to attend public schools.  This letter includes a Question and Answer page and a factsheet.  

When you decide to have your child attend a private school, you give up some of the rights provided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  Your Local School System (LSS) still has some responsibilities regarding identification and evaluation. 

In April the U.S. Department of Education revised it's Question and Answer on serving students with disabilities whose parents have placed them in private schools.  Whether your child already attends a private school or you are considering one for the fall, visit ED.gov to find out what services your child is allowed. 

The Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Program (Part C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was created in 1986 to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities, minimize potential developmental delay, and reduce educational costs to our society by minimizing the need for special education services as children with disabilities reach school age. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the Part C program and quick facts from the research on early brain development, the importance of intervening early, the benefits of early intervention, and current unmet needs. It is meant to be used as a tool to communicate with policymakers, pediatricians, families, and community leaders about the importance of high quality services for infants and toddlers with or at risk for developmental delays and their families.  Download the fact sheet here.