Understanding IDEA: Ensuring Educational Rights for Students with Disabilities
- sebastienscastle
- Nov 6, 2024
- 2 min read
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that ensures students with disabilities are provided with a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) tailored to their individual needs. Enacted in 1975 and reauthorized several times, IDEA aims to give students with disabilities the same educational opportunities as their non-disabled peers, helping them succeed in school and prepare for life after graduation. IDEA covers students from birth to age 21 and provides for special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs
IDEA requires schools to evaluate students suspected of having disabilities and, if eligible, provide them with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP is a personalized document outlining the student's educational goals and the services they'll receive. The IEP team which includes teachers, parents, and other professionals, meets annually to assess the student's progress and adjust the plan as necessary. IDEA also mandates that students be educated in the "least restrictive environment" (LRE), meaning they should learn alongside their non-disabled peers as much as possible.
While IDEA is a federal law, states have the flexibility to create their own IDEA laws and policies within its framework. This means that IDEA looks slightly different from state to state. Some states, for instance, may have additional requirements or procedures to ensure that their students receive the best possible support. Each state's approach to IDEA can impact how services are delivered and what additional support may be available to families. Therefore, parents and educators should familiarize themselves with their state's specific IDEA laws to advocate effectively for students with disabilities.
For more information, read these posts from www.ed.gov that give more detail on specific IDEA laws.
Federal Law
Georgia Law
Connecticut Law
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