Reasons for delays in the U.S. Department of Education's issues of regulations related to three federal laws are reviewed in this briefing report. Eighty-three regulations issued under the Education of the Handicapped Act amendments of 1986 and 1988, Higher Education amendments of 1986 and 1987, and Hawkins-Stafford Elementary and Secondary Improvement amendments of 1988 are examined and information on departmental improvement efforts are analyzed. Interviews with Department of Education and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) officials indicate that the primary reasons for delays in issuing regulations are: (1) the volume of regulations; (2) lengthy periods required to obtain and respond to public comments; (3) complex legal and policy issues; and (4) concurrent program duties. Appendix 1 identifies causes for and offices responsible for delays. Appendix 2 presents data on the number of calendar days taken to process 83 regulations within the Department of Education and OMB. The third appendix profiles selected educational regulations, which include the Regional Educational Laboratories and Research and Development Centers Program, Chapter 1--Migrant Education Program, National Resource Centers for Foreign Language Area Studies, Early Intervention Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Handicaps, and State Administered Adult Education and Discretionary Programs. Appendices 4 and 5 contain Department of Education and OMB comments, respectively, and appendix 6 lists major contributors. Eight tables and 15 figures are included. (LMI)