COMMENT PERIOD OPENS FOR IDEA APPLICATION

The General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) requires Maryland to make the proposed Application for funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) available for public review for 60 days and to accept comments for at least 30 days. The Maryland State Department of Education's State plan for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2005 is published from February 20 through April 21, 2006. The plan includes a checklist of assurances that Maryland has policies and procedures in effect to comply with the requirements of the amendments to IDEA in December 2004. Maryland assures that policies and procedures will be in effect as changes in State and local procedures are made consistent with the IDEA amendments of 2004. The plan for expenditure of state-level IDEA funds by category is also a component of the state plan.

A copy of the plan may be reviewed by visiting the MSDE web site at http://marylandpublicschools.org. The proposed State plan is also available for review by visiting the office of the local director of special education for a local school system.

Attachment:  FFY 06 Federal Application for IDEA Part B

Written comments only will be accepted from March 7, 2006 through April 7, 2006.

Comments must be addressed to:

Dr. Lee Murphy, Section Chief
Grants Management & Monitoring Section
Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

OR

lmurphy@msde.state.md.us

Please contact Dr. Murphy if you have any questions concerning this notice.