An Amazing IDEA:

The Individuals with Disabilities Education

Act is legislation that follows 6 major
principles that focuses on students’ rights
and the responsibilities of public schools to
children with disabilities (Lee, 2020).
1. FAPE : Ensures each eligible student
with a disability receives a free and
appropriate public education that
meets the unique needs of the
student at no cost to the child or
family (Hallahan, Kauffman, &
Pullen, 2019).
2. Appropriate Evaluation: Provides
information used in determining a
child’s needs and eligibility for
special education services at no cost
to the child or family (Hallahan, et
al., 2019).
3. LRE: The Least Restrictive
Environment requires that students References
with disabilities be educated with
their non-disabled peers in the Bateman, D. F. & Cline, J. L. (2016). A
general education classroom to the teacher’s guide to special education.
greatest extent possible (Hallahan, et Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
al., 2019). Hallahan, D. P., Kauffman, J. M., & Pullen,
4. Procedural Safeguards: A process for P. C. (2019). Exceptional learners: An
resolving disputes beginning with introduction to special education, 14th edition.
New York, NY: Pearson Education, Inc.
mediation and ending with civil action
Lee, A. M. I. (2020). Individuals with
(Hallahan, et al., 2019). Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): What you
5. Parent Participation: Parents have a need to know. Retrieved from
right to participate in educational
decision-making regarding their child
https://www.understood.org/en/school-
learning/your-childs-rights/basics-about-
Making Sense of
(Hallahan, et al., 2019).
6. IEP: The Individualized Education
childs-rights/individuals-with-disabilities-
education-act-idea-what-you-need-to-know Alphabet Soup:
Program is a written legal document
which is described in detail within this IDEA, FAPE,
brochure (Hallahan, et al., 2019).
LRE, & IEP
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It is your right to ensure
your child receives a free
appropriate public education
in the least restrictive
environment (Hallahan, et
al., 2019).
The Special Education Process:
Child Find or the identification and
evaluation of children with disabilities
to be referred for special education
services (Hallahan, et al., 2019).
Referral can be initiated by the
parents once per year or by teachers
after receiving parental consent
(Hallahan, et al., 2019).
Evaluation to determine a student’s
eligibility for special education
services must be completed at no cost
to the student/parents by the school
within 60 days from receiving
parental consent (Hallahan, et al.,
2019).
Eligibility Determination requires
a consultation between the parents
and a multidisciplinary team to
determine if the student meets one of
the 13 eligible disability categories
and if the student requires special
education services as a result of their
disability (Hallahan, et al., 2019).
Welcome to the IEP Team:
A multidisciplinary team of educators,
related services professionals, and the
parents/guardian and student whom both
initially develop and annually evaluate
the individualized education program.
3 Essential IEP Components:
1. Abilities: The child’s present level of
achievement, annual goals, and
methods for assessing performance
(Lee, 2020).
2. Related Services: Administered by
multidisciplinary professionals to
mitigate obstacles to learning caused
by a disability (Hallahan, et al., 2019).
3. Supplementary Aids & Services:
Prescribed to support students with
disabilities in learning with non-
disabled students in the least
restrictive environment (Lee, 2020).
Per IDEA (Lee, 2020) You Have
the Right to:
1. Informed Consent
2. Access Educational Records
3. Prior Written Notice
4. Consultation
5. Dispute Resolution Options
6. Request an Independent
Educational Evaluation
7. Participate
8. “Stay Put”
9. Private Placement
10. Confidentiality
Progress Monitoring:
Formative assessment data will be used to
both track and evaluate student learning
and instructor performance (Lee, 2020).
Transparent Communication:
Annual IEP Reviews are required
IEP team meetings to review the
student’s goals for the following school
year (Lee, 2020).
Parent-Teacher Conferences to
discuss and evaluate the student’s
intermittent progress in achieving
their goals (Hallahan, et al., 2019).
Cumulative File Access is the right
of the parent to review their child’s
report cards, medical records,
attendance history, assessment
results, disciplinary reports, and
teacher comments (Lee, 2020).
Prior Written Notice:
The right of parents to receive a written
explanation before any action is taken,
before any changes are made, and before
any service is refused (Lee, 2020).