June 12, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at Fort· Dorchester High School, 8500 Patriot Boulevard, North Charleston, South Carolina

The State Department of Education, Office of Exceptional Children will visit 6 areas across the state within the next 2 weeks.   They will visit the Lowcountry to provide parents, educators and community members an opportunity to provide input on our new South Carolina Special Education Laws June 12.  We are in the middle of a 60 day period before new state special education laws will be adopted (July 11)  

At the First Reading of the recommended state laws on May 9, The Office of Exceptional Children has proposed to adopt the minimum Federal Regulations as state law.  Federal guidelines are the laws that dictate what states must offer as a minimum of services to receive their Federal dollars.  If you know of programs and policies  that need to be addressed --this is the time.  

The formal notice from the OEC, is below. 

Robin Smith

robincdys@aol.com 

LEGAL NOTICE TO NOTIFY INTERESTED PERSONS OF OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND PUBLIC INPUT SESSION ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO 24 S.C. CODE ANN. REGS. 43-243, (Supp. 2006) SPECIAL EDUCATION, EDUCDATION OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

The South Carolina Department of Education (Department) Office of Exceptional Children announces public input hearings to solicit comment on the amendment to 24 S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 43-243 Special Education, Education of Children with Disabilities. 

The public is invited to comment on the proposed amendment to the regulations on: 

June 7, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at South Pointe High School, 801 Neely Road,· Rock Hill, South Carolina 

June 11, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at Poynor Adult and Community Education· Center, 301 South Dargan Street, Florence, South Carolina.

June 12, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at Fort Dorchester High School, 8500 Patriot· Boulevard, North Charleston, South Carolina

June 13, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at Dorman High School, 1050 Cavalier Way,· Roebuck, South Carolina

June 14, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at Crayton Middle School, 5000 Clemson Avenue,· Columbia, South Carolina

June 18, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at USC Aiken Campus, 471 University Parkway,· Robert E. Penland Administration Building, Room 106, Aiken, South Carolina

The Department will present proposed amendments to the regulation and accept comments. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was reauthorized in 2004 to ensure that all children with disabilities between the ages of three and twenty-one, inclusive, residing in the state have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. The new law, known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, requires states to provide for the education of all children with disabilities and to ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected. The state is required to assess and ensure the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilities.  The IDEA regulation, 34 CFR Parts 300 and 301, was published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2006.

The federal IDEA regulation is being incorporated into R 43-243, Special Education, the Education of Students with Disabilities, by reference. This proposed regulation is an outline of all provisions contained in Part B of the IDEA regulation.  Most provisions of proposed R 43-243 are identical to the IDEA regulation. Any changes or options allowed by the IDEA regulation exercised by the SDE are clearly specified.

All comments will be reviewed and considered and any necessary modifications completed. A copy of the proposed amendment may be obtained by contacting the Office of Exceptional Children at 803-734-8224 or on the Department’s Web page located at http://ed.sc.gov/agency/stateboard/agendas/documents/5506.doc. Individuals may also submit comments to the Office of Exceptional Children, State Department of Education, 1429 Senate Street, Room 808, Columbia, South Carolina 29201, or contact the Office of Exceptional Children at 803-734-8224 if there are questions.