May 16, 2008
In this Issue

1. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children With Disabilities
   Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services - May 13, 2008
2. New RAND Study on Investing in Early Childhood Programs
   Source: RAND Corporation - May 12, 2008
3. The Power of Family Conversation
   Source: Harvard Education Letter - May/June 2008
4. Spanish Version of "Cultivating Readers" Available - Cultivando el hábito de la lectura
   Source: National Center for Family Literacy - Retrieved May 14, 2008

1. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children With Disabilities
   Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services - May 13, 2008

   The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has posted proposed amendments to the regulations governing the Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities Program and Preschool Grants for Children with Disabilities Program, as published in the Federal Register on August 14, 2006. These proposed regulations have not previously been available for public comment. The announcement states, "In developing final regulations for the Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities Program, we identified certain issues for which additional regulatory changes might be necessary." These issues include:

   • Parental revocation of consent after consenting to the initial provision of services
   • A State's or local educational agency's (LEA's) obligation to make positive efforts to employ qualified individuals
   • Representation of parents by non-attorneys in due process hearings
   • State monitoring, technical assistance, and enforcement of the Part B program
   • The allocation of funds, under sections 611 and 619 of the Act, to LEAs that are not serving any children with disabilities
   Comments must be received on or before July 28, 2008. For complete information go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-10522.htm
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2. New RAND Study on Investing in Early Childhood Programs
   Source: RAND Corporation - May 12, 2008

   The RAND Corporation has published a new paper entitled The Economics of Early Childhood: What the Dismal Science Has to Say About Investing in Children, by M. Rebecca Kilburn and Lynn A. Karoly. This paper summarizes recent research findings from the field of economics related to the benefits of investing in early childhood programs. It is meant to provide policymakers with a primer on how economic analyses can be used to help set agendas for early childhood policy and identify the benefits of targeting certain groups of children for help. For complete information and to read the report go to http://rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP227/

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3. The Power of Family Conversation
   Source: Harvard Education Letter - May/June 2008

   The May/June 2008 issue of the Harvard Education Letter discusses recent research findings related to the significant difference parents can make in their children's literacy skills by increasing the quantity and quality of their conversations beginning at birth. The issue is entitled The Power of Family Conversation and is available online at http://www.edletter.org/insights/familyconversation.shtml

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4. Spanish Version of "Cultivating Readers" Available - Cultivando el hábito de la lectura
   Source: National Center for Family Literacy - Retrieved May 14, 2008

   The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) has published a Spanish version of Cultivating Readers (Cultivando el hábito de la lectura), which provides activities for parents to support their child's literacy, language and reading skills. The magazine, which was funded by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is available online at http://www.famlit.org/site/c.gtJWJdMQIsE/b.3485129/. It will also be sent free of charge to parents who email NCFL at info@famlit.org

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