|
Media
Center Main
AEP
News Archives
Industry News
Submit industry news
Sign up to receive future
AEP press releases
Press Contact:
Dave Gladney
Writer/Editor
856-241-7772
dgladney@AEPweb.org
|
Supplemental instructional materials approved for use
in programs authorized by IDEA 2004
Rules for reauthorized legislation establish supplementals
as valid purchase for
early intervention programs, clarify implementation of new accessibility
standard
WASHINGTON, DC — Workbooks, computer software,
and DVDs are important learning components in programs designed
to help struggling learners, according to regulations governing
the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA) 2004. Published August 3, 2006, by the U.S. Department
of Education (USED), the IDEA regulations support and encourage
the use of supplemental instructional materials in early intervening
services, and therefore establish supplementals as valid for purchase
with Title I funds.
“Teachers have relied on supplemental materials for years
to help struggling learners,” stated Charlene Gaynor, CEO
of the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP). “This
recognition from the Department of Education is a huge step in validating
the important role these products play in teaching and learning.”
In 2004, language drafted by AEP was included the IDEA Conference
Committee Report. That same language was quoted in the discussion
of the new rules:
Early intervening services should make use of supplemental
instructional materials, where appropriate, to support student
learning. Children targeted for early intervening services under
IDEA are the very students who are most likely to need additional
reinforcement to the core curriculum used in the regular classroom.
These are in fact the additional instructional materials that
have been developed to supplement and therefore strengthen the
efficacy of comprehensive core curriculum.
Publishers of supplemental materials should be aware of this stipulation
and, in turn, make it known to their customers.
In another section of the rules, USED explained when states must
act on the new National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard
(NIMAS), legislation that aims to streamline the production and
delivery of instructional materials to blind and visually impaired
students. The rules discussed reasonable steps toward the provision
of accessible materials, and provided a definition of visual impairment
for students the standard is designed to serve.
For publishers it is important to know that States will still be
required to act by “December 3, 2006, as part of any print
instructional materials adoption process, procurement contract,
or other practice or instrument used for purchase of print instructional
materials, enter in to a written contract with the publisher of
the print instructional materials to: (1) require the publisher
to prepare and, on or before delivery of the print instructional
materials, provide the NIMAC with electronic files containing the
content of the print instructional materials from the publisher
that are produced in, or may be rendered in, specialized formats.”
The effective date is two years after the bill was signed and most
states and publishers have been preparing to comply with the law.
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education is
working with the states to provide a smooth transition during the
implementation period.
Final rules will be published in the federal register on August
14, 2006. The full comments, discussion and proposed rules are currently
on the USED
website. Information about NIMAS is available at nimas.cast.org.
For more information on AEP's government relations program, contact
Jennifer Hill at 856-241-7772.
About AEP
The Association of Educational Publishers (AEP), founded in 1895,
is a national, nonprofit association devoted to serving and advancing
the supplemental educational publishing industry. Its membership
represents the many facets of the educational publishing community
including publishers, service providers, nonprofit associations,
schools, researchers, and freelance contributors. With the rapid
growth of new educational technologies, AEP members are at the forefront
of delivering progressive, educational products and services that
address individual learning needs and differences. Please visit
www.AEPweb.org for more information. |
