Department of Education October 24, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (Privacy Act), the Department of Education (Department) publishes this notice of a new system of records entitled ``Special Education Individual Reporting on Regulatory Compliance Related to the Personnel Development Program's Service Obligation and the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA)'' (18-16-04). In seeking to improve outcomes for infants, toddlers and children with disabilities, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is designed to ensure that States have personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge to service infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. The Office of Special Education Programs' (OSEP) Personnel Development Program to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities (Personnel Development Program), pursuant to section 662 of IDEA, provides grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) and other eligible entities, in large part, to train personnel in the area of special education with the intent of improving both the quality and the supply of qualified special educators. Through this program, IHEs and other eligible entities provide scholarships to individuals who agree to perform a service obligation for a period of two years for every year for which assistance was received. Scholars who do not satisfy their service obligation or other applicable program requirements must repay all or a part of their scholarship in accordance with the regulations implementing section 662(h) of IDEA. The new system of records announced in this notice is needed to track scholars' enrollment, employment, and fulfillment of the terms of the service obligation.