The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, prior to the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA - Public Law 94-142), upon which the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (Public Law 105-17) is based, over half the children with disabilities in United States did not receive appropriate educational services. The author points out that today IDEA ensures that every child with a disability is given a free and customized public education, with the least restrictions, granting of certain rights to parents; the law guarantees that the children are not segregated or removed from the classroom altogether on the basis of their disabilities. The paper stresses that the six principles of IDEA can not be truly implemented and benefited unless all affected parties including parents and the schools have an understanding of the law and implemented it fully.

Table of Contents:
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
Appropriate Evaluation
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Parent and Student Participation in Decision Making
Procedural Due Process
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"It used to be a common scene for parents to be told by school administrators that they did not have any plan for their disabled children. But not any more. With the introduction of new amendments in the form of IDEA, all children (ages 3 to 21) with disabilities are entitled to a free, and appropriate public education. The state and local school systems are made responsible to organize and pay for the education even if it is provided in a private or residential school outside of the local public school system. "

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