Education Update 2000:
Children With Disabilities
Jack asks YOU about Education
Policy
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was enacted in 1975 to
provides federal funds to the states to assist them in providing an education
for children with disabilities.
There have been different amendments to the Act, however, the following are
the major principles:
- State and school districts make available a free appropriate public
education to all children with disabilities; states and school districts
identify, locate and evaluate all children regardless of the severity of their
disability to determine which children are eligible.
- Each child receiving services has an individual education program (IEP)
spelling out the specific special education and related services to be
provided to meet his or her needs; The parent must be a partner in planning
and overseeing the child's special education and services as a member of the
IEP team.
- "To the maximum extent appropriate," children with disabilities must be
educated with children who are not disabled and states and schools must
provide procedural safeguards to children with disabilities and their parents.
Do you feel that IDEA is working? Are there any changes
that you would make? Do you know a child that is benefitting from IDEA? How
should we proceed with education for children with disabilities?
E-Mail me at . . .
