Attention LaPointe and Associates, P.C. retainer clients:

Superintendent of Public Instruction, Thomas Watkins, has announced a series of "listen and learn" sessions to discuss the proposed special education rules. Mr. Watkins will make himself available to all interested parties at four locations throughout Michigan over the next several weeks. These sessions will give anyone who is interested a chance to ask questions of and raise concerns to Mr. Watkins personally.

Watkins has said that he will take these comments into account when drafting the final recommendations to forward to the Office of Regulatory Reform. The anticipated time line for submitting the proposed rules to ORR is March, 2002.

We will continue to update our website, www.spedlaw.com with any developments on the proposed rules.

The meetings have been scheduled for:

November 6, 2001

Macomb ISD offices in Macomb

7:30 p.m.

November 13, 2001

Kent ISD offices in Grand Rapids

7:00 p.m.

November 19, 2001

Meadows Elementary School in Novi

7:00 p.m.

November 20, 2001

Northwest Activities Center in Detroit

7:00 p.m.