Department of Education December 1, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The President announced, as one of his initiatives to address border security and immigration challenges in the United States, a plan to have the U.S. Department of Education (Department) develop and launch a free, web-based portal to help immigrants learn English to help them expand their opportunities and make effective contributions to American society. To implement the President's plan, the Department's Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), as authorized by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and through a contract, has developed and created the U.S.A. Learns Web Portal, an online learning environment designed for limited English proficient (LEP) adults whose level of English proficiency is at a low level. The portal was launched on November 7, 2008, on the Internet and is available for use by the public at no cost. The portal is available at the following Web address: https://www.usalearns.org. The Department plans to turn over ownership and operation of the portal to one or more entities outside of the Federal Government that would, with its or their own resources, continue the maintenance and upkeep of the portal, make improvements to it, and continue to make the portal available at no cost to the public. Through this notice, we are inviting proposals from entities interested in owning and operating the portal.

The Secretary issues final regulations governing the Assistance to States for Education of Children with Disabilities Program and the Preschool Grants for Children with Disabilities Program. These regulations are needed to clarify and strengthen current regulations in 34 CFR Part 300 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, in the areas of parental consent for continued special education and related services; non-attorney representation in due process hearings; State monitoring, technical assistance, and enforcement; and allocation of funds. The regulations also incorporate a statutory requirement relating to positive efforts to employ and advance in employment individuals with disabilities that was inadvertently omitted from the 2006 regulations.