SB Education

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004)

IDEA is a federal law that guarantees a free and appropriate public education for every child with a disability. This means that if you enroll your child in public school, his/her education should be at no cost to you and should be appropriate for his/her age, ability, and developmental level. IDEA is an amended version of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142), passed in 1975. In 1997, IDEA was reauthorized (P.L. 105-17), further defining children’s rights to educational services and strengthening the role of parents in the educational planning process for their children (Autism Society of America, www.autism-society.org).

Each school district must ensure that, to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are nondisabled; and

Those special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occur only if the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in the regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004 http://idea.ed.gov

Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a written document that outlines a child’s education. As the name implies, the educational program should be tailored to the individual student to provide maximum educational benefit. The key word is individual. A program that is appropriate for one child with autism may not be appropriate for another (Autism Society of America website: http://www.autism-society.org).

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE

Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP)

The Individualized Family Services plan (IFSP) is a roadmap that a family and child use while receiving service when the child is aged Birth to 3 years old. Along with a service coordinator, the family and professional personnel will develop a plan that will outline the services and locations for the child’s Early intervention.

Parents’ Rights

According to IDEA (2004), parents have the right to have …

• an interpreter when their first language is not English and they feel uncomfortable speaking English for communication during IEP meetings
• any individual (i.e., extended family member, friend, or neighbor) participate in an IEP meeting who can help develop an IEP for the child
• any information the child when consent is given to school to complete an assessment or special education services. IDEA 2004 requires schools to get informed consent from parents before the initial evaluation and before implementing special education services in the IEP
• research-based methodology and evaluation procedures written into the child’s IEP
• the child’s general education teacher(s) participate in IEP meetings
  

More Information:

Wrightslaw http://www.wrightslaw.com
Building the Legacy: IDEA 2004 http://idea.ed.gov