ATTENTION READERS!

Many changes to special education laws took effect in July and October of 2005. These changes affect the accuracy of statements in Chapters Two through Twelve of this manual. But much of the information and advice given in these chapters is still accurate and useful. The authors have tried to alert you to any significant changes by rewriting Chapter One, which is an over-view chapter on special education, and substituting it here in place of the old chapter.

PLEASE READ CHAPTER ONE
BEFORE USING ANY OTHER PART OF THIS MANUAL!

To prevent you from having to remember what the old law used to say and how that compares to the new law, the authors have tried to show you what is old and what is new by using strikethrough text to show what was old law and by using underlined text to show what is new law.

If you notice that something said in Chapter One conflicts with something said anywhere in Chapters Two through Twelve, you should rely on the more up-to-date information given in Chapter One.