SDE Invites Comments on Proposed Amendments
To State Special Education Regulations

(Santa Fe, NM)-The New Mexico State Department of Education (SDE) will hold two public hearings in October on proposed amendments to the New Mexico State Board of Education's (SBE) special education regulations and education-related provisions in the state Standards for Excellence. The amendments will bring both into full compliance with the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and provide clarification.

The hearings will be held on Tuesday, October 8, in Ruidoso, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., at the Rural Education Cooperative #9, located at 1400 Sudderth Drive (State Highway 37) in the Coronado Professional Center, and on Wednesday, October 9, in Albuquerque, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., at the Montoya Campus, Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute, located at 4700 Morris NE, Building J, Room 122 (Lecture Hall).

The proposed amendments:

· Clarify the graduation requirements for students with disabilities receiving special education services
· Clarify that all students with disabilities must participate in statewide and district-wide assessments, with accommodations and/or modifications if determined appropriate, or an alternate assessment
· Clarify the circumstances under which the state recognizes specialized instruction in "related services only" as special education and
· Expedite the processes for special education due process hearings and administrative appeals.

Copies of the proposed amendments, with explanations for each proposed change, are available from the SDE's Special Education Office, 300 Don Gaspar Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2786, 505-827-6541. Written comments on the proposed changes will be accepted by the SDE until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5, 2002. Written comments may be mailed to the Special Education Office at the address above, faxed to 505-827-6791 or e-mailed to spedfeedback@ped.state.nm.us.

Individuals with disabilities who need any form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in one of the public hearings or who require written information in an alternative format should contact the SDE's Special Education Office as soon as possible.

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