This communication is to inform you that at their April 6, 2020 meeting, the Board of Regents approved regulatory changes to assist school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools with approved special education programs, preschool programs, families, and impartial hearing officers with effective operations during the COVID-19 crisis. The regulations, which were approved through emergency action, became effective April 7, 2020.

The regulatory changes provide flexibility relating to certain procedures and timeframes for special education due process hearings and timeframes related to special education programs and services. 

Additional information can be found in the attached field memorandum.

A copy of the field memorandum and other COVID-19 information is available on the New York State Education Department’s COVID-19 webpage.