This article is found under the "What Is?" page. This article was written as an informational piece.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is legislation that was originally passed in 1975. The purpose of the Act was to provide "free and appropriate education" for all students regardless of disabilities.
The act has been through several amendments and changes in content and structure from time to time.
Recent changes to the act were finalized in 2006 and is referred to as Part B.
Part B addresses the school aged child. This is the services that is given by public schools in cooperation with the IDEA legislation. School Systems are bound by law to service these students needs "appropriately" and "freely".
This is a great initiative by the federal government to truly provide equal opportunity education. That means equal opportunity to the deaf, blind, autistic, and/or retarded students of America. (When I read over what I just wrote it sounded sarcastic but let me assure you that is not the tone I was using).
In September of 2011 the govt. passed Part C of IDEA, which deals with infant and Toddlers.
If you would like to read the actual law in legal jargon click here (I promise you will not enjoy the link but I try to provide as many resources as I can)
IDEA and everything that comes from it is something that is difficult for everyone. First of all it is new to us. Researchers are still trying to figure out what "appropriate" education means and the best way to provide it.
This is a burden to many districts who are under staffed, under funded, and unlearned on these issues. It is typical to see private schools reject applications from students with disabilities because they are not able to adequately educate those students.
