Join the Conversation for Change—National Online Dialogue to Shape Federal Strategies to Assist Young People with Disabilities as They Transition from School to Work.

The U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services and the Social Security Administration will host the event May 13-27, 2013, and invite policymakers, educators, service providers, families, youth, the advocacy community and others to join this conversation to improve transition outcomes. To register for and participate in the dialogue, visit the Federal Partners in Transition feedback community.

(05/10/2013)

Year of College and Career initiative.

The Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) launched its new YCC Website, a portal for OSERS to share transition news, events, youth-specific information, and a range of other resources.

(04/15/2013)

PROMISE Public Input Notice (PIN), Now Closed.

The PROMISE Public Input Notice (PIN) is now closed. It was made available February 15 until 5:00 PM EDT March 17, 2013, for public input on key program areas. Comments were also posted on the PIN Blog, now closed.

PIN Cover Memo: Word (37KB) | PDF (158KB)
PROMISE PIN: Word (252KB) | PDF (387KB)

(02/15/2013)

Final Regulations Related to Parental Consent for the Use of Public Benefits or Insurance

The Department is issuing Final Regulations related to parental consent for the use of public benefits or insurance (e.g., Medicaid) to pay for services under Part B of the IDEA. The regulations will be effective on March 18, 2013.

(02/12/2013)

ED Clarifies Schools' Obligation to Provide Equal Opportunity to Students with Disabilities to Participate in Extracurricular Athletics

Today, the Department's Office for Civil Rights issued guidance clarifying school districts' existing legal obligations to provide equal access to extracurricular athletic activities to students with disabilities. The guidance makes clear that schools may not exclude students who have an intellectual, developmental, physical, or any other disability from trying out and playing on a team, if they are otherwise qualified. This guidance builds on a resource document the Department issued in 2011 that provides important information on improving opportunities for children and youth with disabilities to access PE and athletics.

These documents are a response to the GAO recommendations from their 2010 report which states that “the Secretary of Education facilitate information sharing among states and schools on ways to provide opportunities in [physical education] PE and extracurricular athletics to students with disabilities.”

(01/25/2013)

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