U.S. Issues New Rules on Schools and Disability

For more than 25 years, federal law had required that schools nationwide identify children as learning disabled by comparing their scores on intelligence tests with their academic achievement. This meant that many students had to wait until third or fourth grade to get the special education help they needed.

In regulations issued today after changes to the law, the federal Education Department said states could not require school districts to rely on that method, allowing districts to find other ways to determine which children are eligible for extra help.

By DIANA JEAN SCHEMO

Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/04/education/04education.html?_r=1&oref=slogin