On January 19, 2012, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released new guidance regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act’s impact on public elementary and secondary education programs. The Dear Colleague Letter and Questions and Answers document discuss how Section 504 and the ADAAA define disability and the obligation of school districts to evaluate students for disability, provide a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities, and provide procedural safeguards for identification, evaluation, and educational placement. See links below for further information and resources. • Dear Colleague Letter: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201109.html • Questions and Answers Document: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-504faq-201109.html • U.S. Department of Education Press Release: http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/department-education-issues-ada-amendments-act-dear-colleague-letter-provide-gui • Blog Post from Russlynn Ali, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/18/equal-access-education