[The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions]
[Department of Education Semiannual Regulatory Agenda]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Part VI





Department of Education





-----------------------------------------------------------------------



Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

[[Page 64530]]



DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (ED)                                           


  



_______________________________________________________________________

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of the Secretary

34 CFR Subtitles A and B

Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Education.

ACTION: Semiannual regulatory agenda.

_______________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Education publishes a semiannual agenda of 
Federal regulatory and deregulatory actions. The agenda is issued under 
the authority of section 4(b) of Executive Order 12866 ``Regulatory 
Planning and Review.'' The purpose of the agenda is to encourage more 
effective public participation in the regulatory process by providing 
the public with early information about pending regulatory activities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments related to 
specific regulations listed in this agenda should be directed to the 
agency contact listed for the regulations. Questions or comments 
related to preparation of this agenda should be directed to Stanley M. 
Cohen, Division of Regulatory Services, Office of the General Counsel, 
Department of Education, Room 6E117, FB-6, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-2241; telephone: (202) 401-8300. Individuals who 
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(b) of Executive Order 12866, dated 
September 30, 1993, requires the Department of Education (ED) to 
publish, at a time and in a manner specified by the Administrator of 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, an agenda of all regulations under development or review. 
The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 602(a), requires ED to 
publish, in October and April of each year, a regulatory flexibility 
agenda.

     The regulatory flexibility agenda may be combined with any 
other agenda that satisfies the statutory requirements (5 U.S.C. 
605(a)). In compliance with the Executive order and the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, the Secretary publishes this agenda.

     For each set of regulations listed, the agenda provides the 
title of the document, the type of document, a citation to any 
rulemaking or other action taken since publication of the most 
recent agenda, and planned dates of future rulemaking. In addition, 
the agenda provides the following information:

 An abstract that includes a description of the problem to be 
addressed, any principal alternatives being considered, and potential 
costs and benefits of the action.

 An indication of whether the planned action is likely to have 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601(6)).

 A reference to where a reader can find the current regulations 
in the Code of Federal Regulations.

 A citation of legal authority.

 The name, address, and telephone number of the contact person 
at ED from whom a reader can obtain additional information regarding 
the planned action.

     In accordance with ED's Principles for Regulating listed in 
its regulatory plan, ED is committed to regulation that improves 
the quality and equality of services to its customers, learners of 
all ages. ED will regulate only when absolutely necessary and then 
in the most flexible, most equitable, least burdensome way 
possible.

     Interested members of the public are invited to comment on any 
of the items listed in this agenda that they believe are not 
consistent with the Principles for Regulating.

     This publication in the Federal Register does not impose any 
binding obligation on ED with regard to any specific item in the 
agenda. ED may elect not to pursue any of the regulatory actions 
listed here, and regulatory action in addition to the items listed 
is not precluded. Dates of future regulatory actions are subject to 
revision in subsequent agendas.

     For this edition of ED's regulatory agenda, the most important 
significant regulatory actions are included in The Regulatory Plan, 
which appears in part II of this issue of the Federal Register. The 
Regulatory Plan entry is listed in the table of contents below and 
is denoted by a bracketed bold reference, which directs the reader 
to the appropriate sequence number in part II.

Electronic Access to This Document

     You may view this document, as well as all other ED documents 
published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable 
Document Format (PDF), on the Internet at the following site: 
http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister

     To use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is 
available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, 
call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) toll free, at 1-888-
293-6498, or in the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.

Note: The official version of this document is the document published 
in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition 
of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is 
available on GPO Access at: www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html

Dated: September 27, 2005.

 Kent D. Talbert,

Delegated the Authority of the General Counsel.

                            Office of the Chief Financial Officer--Long-Term Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
915         Protection of Human Subjects (Classified Research)....................................    1890-AA08
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 64531]]


                            Office of the Chief Financial Officer--Completed Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
916         Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, Technical Amendment..............    1890-AA12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                    Office for Civil Rights--Final Rule Stage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
917         Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving       1870-AA11
            Federal Financial Assistance..........................................................
918         Equal Access to Public School Facilities for the Boy Scouts of America and Other          1870-AA12
            Designated Youth Groups...............................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                         Office of Elementary and Secondary Education--Final Rule Stage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
919         Title I, Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged......................    1810-AA97
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                    Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services--Final Rule Stage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
920         National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard...............................    1820-AB56
921         Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities; Preschool Grants    1820-AB57
            for Children With Disabilities; and Service Obligations Under Special Education--
            Personnel Development (Section 610 Review) (Reg Plan Seq No. 30)......................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References in boldface appear in the Regulatory Plan in part II of this issue of the Federal Register.


                   Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services--Completed Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
922         Reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (Completion of a       1820-AB54
            Section 610 Review)...................................................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                            Office of Innovation and Improvement--Proposed Rule Stage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Regulation
 Sequence                                           Title                                            Identifier
  Number                                                                                               Number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
923         Student Rights in Research, Experimental Programs, and Testing........................    1855-AA03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________________________________________


Department of Education (ED)                          Long-Term Actions


Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)



_______________________________________________________________________




915. PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS (CLASSIFIED RESEARCH)

Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant

CFR Citation: 34 CFR 97

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Interim Final Rule               To Be                       Determined

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Helene Deramond
Phone: 202 245-6154

RIN: 1890-AA08

[[Page 64532]]

_______________________________________________________________________


Department of Education (ED)                          Completed Actions


Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO)



_______________________________________________________________________




916. FEDERAL POLICY FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS, TECHNICAL 
AMENDMENT

Priority: Info./Admin./Other

CFR Citation: 34 CFR 97

Completed:
________________________________________________________________________

Reason                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Final Action                    06/23/05                    70 FR 36325

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Helene Deramond
Phone: 202 245-6154

RIN: 1890-AA12
_______________________________________________________________________


Department of Education (ED)                           Final Rule Stage


Office for Civil Rights (OCR)



_______________________________________________________________________




917. NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR 
ACTIVITIES RECEIVING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Priority: Other Significant

Legal Authority: 20 USC 1681 to 1682

CFR Citation: 34 CFR 106

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: The Department proposed changes to the regulations 
implementing title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These 
changes would amend existing regulations to provide more flexibility 
for educators to establish single-sex classes and schools at the 
elementary and secondary levels. The amendments would support efforts 
of school districts to improve educational outcomes for children and to 
provide public school parents with a diverse array of educational 
opportunities that respond to the educational needs of their children, 
while at the same time ensuring appropriate safeguards against 
discrimination. Amendments would be designed to permit appropriate 
latitude for innovative efforts to help children learn and to expand 
the choices parents have for their children's education consistent with 
the purposes of title IX.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            03/09/04                    69 FR 11276
NPRM Comment Period End         04/23/04
Final Action                    12/00/05

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Sandra G. Battle, Department of Education, Office for 
Civil Rights, Room 6126, PCP, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20202-1100
Phone: 202 245-6767

RIN: 1870-AA11
_______________________________________________________________________




918. EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES FOR THE BOY SCOUTS OF 
AMERICA AND OTHER DESIGNATED YOUTH GROUPS

Priority: Other Significant

Legal Authority: 20 USC 7905

CFR Citation: 34 CFR 108

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: These regulations would implement the Boy Scouts of America 
Equal Access Act (Boy Scouts Act), which is part of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind 
Act of 2001. Under the Boy Scouts Act, no public elementary school, 
public secondary school, or State or local educational agency that 
receives funds made available through the Department and that has a 
limited public forum or designated open forum shall deny equal access 
or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminate against, any group 
officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or other specified 
patriotic youth groups.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

ANPRM                           11/15/02                    67 FR 69456
ANPRM Comment Period End        12/16/02
NPRM                            10/19/04                    69 FR 61556
NPRM Comment Period End         12/03/04
Final Action                    12/00/05

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Sandra G. Battle, Department of Education, Office for 
Civil Rights, Room 6126, PCP, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 
20202-1100
Phone: 202 245-6767

RIN: 1870-AA12
_______________________________________________________________________


Department of Education (ED)                           Final Rule Stage


Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)



_______________________________________________________________________




919. TITLE I, IMPROVING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DISADVANTAGED

Priority: Other Significant

Legal Authority: 20 USC 6301

CFR Citation: 34 CFR 200

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: These regulations would clarify statutory provisions 
regarding State, LEA, and school accountability for the academic 
achievement of limited English proficient (LEP) students and are needed 
to implement changes to title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 
2001. The regulations would permit States to exclude from reading/
language arts assessments LEP students who have been in schools in the 
United States for fewer than 10 months. The regulations would also 
permit States to count in the LEP subgroup for 1 or 2 years students 
who were LEP but who, it is determined, are no longer LEP.

[[Page 64533]]

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            06/24/04                    69 FR 35462
NPRM Comment Period End         08/09/04
Final Action                    12/00/05

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Jacquelyn Jackson, Director, Student Achievement and 
School Accountability Programs, Department of Education, Office of 
Elementary and Secondary Education, Room 3W230, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20202-6132
Phone: 202 260-0826

Related RIN: Previously reported as 1820-AB55
RIN: 1810-AA97
_______________________________________________________________________


Department of Education (ED)                           Final Rule Stage


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)



_______________________________________________________________________




920. [bull] NATIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ACCESSIBILITY STANDARD

Priority: Other Significant

Legal Authority: 20 USC 1411 to 1420

CFR Citation: 34 CFR 300

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: These regulations would establish the National Instructional 
Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS or Standard) as required under 
sections 612(a)(23)(A) and 674(e)(4) of the Individuals With 
Disabilities Education Act as amended by the Individuals With 
Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. The purpose of the 
NIMAS is to help increase the availability and timely delivery of print 
instructional materials in accessible formats to blind or other persons 
with print disabilities in elementary schools and secondary schools. 
This action would add an appendix to 34 CFR part 300 that would set 
forth the technical elements and specifications for the Standard.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            06/29/05                    70 FR 37302
NPRM Comment Period End         09/12/05
Final Action                    11/00/05

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

URL For Public Comments:
www.regulations.gov

Agency Contact: Troy Justesen, Department of Education, Office of 
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 
Room 5138, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2570
Phone: 202 245-7468

RIN: 1820-AB56
_______________________________________________________________________




921. [bull] ASSISTANCE TO STATES FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH 
DISABILITIES; PRESCHOOL GRANTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES; AND 
SERVICE OBLIGATIONS UNDER SPECIAL EDUCATION--PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT 
(SECTION 610 REVIEW)

 Regulatory Plan: This entry is Seq. No. 30 in part II of this issue of 
the Federal Register.

RIN: 1820-AB57
_______________________________________________________________________


Department of Education (ED)                          Completed Actions


Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)



_______________________________________________________________________




922. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT 
(COMPLETION OF A SECTION 610 REVIEW)

Priority: Other Significant

Legal Authority: 20 USC 1400 to 1482

CFR Citation: 34 CFR ch III

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: IDEA was reauthorized on December 3, 2004. ED will be making 
changes to its regulations to implement the reauthorized statute. 
Readers are directed to other entries in this agenda for more specific 
information regarding these regulatory changes.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

Notice                          01/10/02                     67 FR 1411
End Review                      08/30/05

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

Agency Contact: Troy Justesen, Department of Education, Office of 
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 
Room 5138, PCP, Washington, DC 20202-2570
Phone: 202 245-7468

Related RIN: Related to 1820-AB56, Related to 1820-AB57
RIN: 1820-AB54

[[Page 64534]]

_______________________________________________________________________


Department of Education (ED)                        Proposed Rule Stage


Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII)



_______________________________________________________________________




923. STUDENT RIGHTS IN RESEARCH, EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS, AND TESTING

Priority: Other Significant

Legal Authority: 20 USC 1232h

CFR Citation: 34 CFR 98

Legal Deadline: None

Abstract: These regulations are needed to implement amendments to the 
Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) resulting from (1) section 
1017 of the Goals 2000 Educate America Act (Pub. L. 103-227; 20 U.S.C. 
1232h) and (2) legislation passed as part of the No Child Left Behind 
Act of 2001 (NCLB) (Pub. L. 107-110). Section 1017 of Goals 2000 
amended PPRA to require schools, in certain instances, to make specific 
educational materials available to parents for inspection. The 
provision also amended PPRA to prohibit schools from requiring students 
to submit to certain surveys, analyses, or evaluations without parental 
consent. Amendments made to PPRA by NCLB specify certain subjects on 
which schools, in conjunction with parents, must develop and adopt 
policies. These amendments also require local educational agencies to 
directly notify parents of these policies and permit parents to opt out 
of certain activities. As our next action, we will issue a new NPRM 
incorporating the amendments resulting from NCLB, as well as the 
earlier amendments resulting from the Goals 2000 Educate America Act.

Timetable:
________________________________________________________________________

Action                            Date                      FR Cite

________________________________________________________________________

NPRM                            08/28/95                    60 FR 44696
NPRM Comment Period End         10/27/95
Second NPRM                     01/00/06

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No

Small Entities Affected: No

Government Levels Affected: None

URL For Public Comments:
www.regulations.gov

Agency Contact: Ellen Campbell, Family Policy Compliance Office, 
Department of Education, Room 2W117, FB-6, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20202-4605
Phone: 202 260-3887

Related RIN: Previously reported as 1880-AA66
RIN: 1855-AA03
[FR Doc. 05-19916 Filed 10-28-05; 8:45 am ]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-S