New IDEA Part B Proposed Regulations Undergoing OMB Review

(02/26/2008)

The specific topics of the proposed regulations are unknown at this time. The review by OMB is usually the last step before federal regulations are published. It is expected that these additional IDEA Part B proposed regulations will be published in the Federal Register this spring.

After ED drafts the regulations and it clears the approval process at ED, it then goes to the OMB. OMB is the office within the White House that reviews the regulations; makes sure that they are in compliance with other laws and regulations; are responsive to the community; are presented in a strict regulation writing format; and that they address elements of the law that are necessary. If anything is missing OMB offers comments back to the department. ED must satisfy OMB from a management and budgetary perspective before the regulations can be printed in the Federal Register. The Federal Register is the federal government's mechanism for announcing public activities. For more information, please contact Catherine D. Clarke, ASHA's Director of Education and Regulatory Advocacy, at 800-498-2071, ext. 5611 or via e-mail at cclarke@asha.org.