Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Provisions and Requirements of IDEA

• Free appropriate public education(FAPE)
• Child find.
• Individualized education program(IEP).
• The least restrictive environment(LRE).
• Procedural guidelines.
• Evaluation procedures.
• Transition from part C to preschool.
• Participation in assessments.

Free Appropriate Public Education(FAPE)

• All children with disabilities between the ages of 3 to 21, including children with disabilities who have been suspended or expelled from school, must receive a free, appropriate, public education.
• Does this mean that all those students must be provided with one?The decision is based on the unique needs of each individual student.
• IDEA also specifically states that educators must maintain high expectations for students with disabilities, implaying that more than minimal educational programs should be provided.

Child Find

• This mandate of IDEA requires that all children with disabilities, including those who are homeless, ward of the state, and who attend private schools, be identified and evaluated to determine if they need special education services

The Individualized Education Program (IEP)

• IDEA states that all children identified with a disability must have an individualized education program (IEP).
• IEP is a statement of the student's specific educational program written by a multidiciplinary team that includes, among other things, the student's goals, any related services necessary, and how the student will participate in accountability assessments.

The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

• LRE mandate requires that students with disabilities be educated with children without disabilities to the maximum extend appropriate.
• In addition, it states that students should be removed from the general education environment only when the nature or the severity of the disability is such that education in that setting with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

Procedural Guidelines

• Parents have the opportunity to:
• Examine all records relating to their child.
• Participate in meetings involving the identification, evoluation, and educational placement of their child.
• Obtain an independent educational evaluation if they so choose.

Evaluation Procedures:

• Use of variety of assessment tools and strategies to determine whether the child has a disability.
• Determine the content of the IEP,including information showing how the student will be involved in the general education curriculum
• The evaluation cannot be a single measure or assessment.In other words, multiple measures or procedures must be used in determining eligibility and IEP content.Technically sound instruments also must be used.

Transition from Part C to Preschool Programs

• IDEA ensures that infants and toddlers from birth through age 2 participating in early intervention programs have a smooth and effective transition to preschool programs.

Participation in Assessments:

• Originally mandated in 1997, the participation in assessments provision requires that all children with disabilities be included in all general, state, and districtwide assessment

Reference: