The full name is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is a key federal law in the United States that ensures students with disabilities receive appropriate public education.

Key points about IDEA include:

1. Purpose: The law mandates that children with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) that meets their unique learning needs.
2. Special Education Services: IDEA provides special education and related services to eligible children with disabilities from birth through high school graduation or age 21.
3. Individualized Education Program (IEP): Each student covered under IDEA receives an individualized education plan tailored to their specific educational requirements.
4. Major Disability Categories: The Act covers 13 disabilities.
5. IDEA emphasizes 4 Key Principles:
   1. Individualized support,
   2. Education in the least restrictive environment (LRE),
   3. Parental involvement, and
   4. Procedural safeguards to protect students’ and families’ rights

The law was initially passed in 1975 (then called the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) and was renamed IDEA in 1990, with subsequent reauthorizations in 1997 and 2004.

The US Department of Education provided an interpretation of the Endrew Court Decision stating that “There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to educating children with disabilities. Rather, placement decisions must be individualized and made consistent with a child’s IEP. (19) We note that placement in regular classes may not be the least restrictive placement for every child with a disability.“

According to WAC 392-172A-02060 Placements: The IEP team is responsible for determining the student’s placement.

Follow these links to learn more:

• Provision of Specially Designed Instruction 
• Maintaining a Continuum of Placement Options
• Provision of SDI and Supports for Students with Behavioral Complexities 
• Lack of Student Progress