| IDEA 97
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, particularly its
recent IDEA 97 incarnation, is the most complete legal framework
so far that guarantees specialized educational attention for children
afflicted with a whole range of conditions and disabilities. The
Act itself is a vast document, because it provides detailed procedures
to ensure results and accountability, not just general protections.
Behind most of the Act’s provisions is direct accountability
on the part of local educational agencies (LEA’s)
and state educational agencies (SEA’s),
which are required by law to work together towards IDEA goals. Other
provisions focus on procedures with specific steps that must be
followed by schools. We have summarized the most important IDEA
provisions that will impact your family’s search for answers.
Click on the links to the right for actual language from the Individuals
with Disabilities Act.
State-Provided Special Education
Each state must have on file its policy for providing a free
appropriate public education (FAPE) to
all children with disabilities, even those who have been suspended
or expelled.
Local Responsibility to Work with State
Each Local Education Agency must report to the State Education Agency
and they must work together to provide Special Education on an easily
accessible local level.
Individualized
Education Program
The IEP is the heart of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act’s provisions, a detailed document
that is truly an individualized plan for your child’s unique
needs. It officially records three vital facts:
- your child’s condition
- his or her eligibility for help under IDEA
- the school’s agreement with you on how to provide the
education he or she requires
Most importantly, it is regularly revised according to ongoing
assessment of your child’s performance in the programs each
IEP outlines.
Child Find Policy
State must have on file its policy for locating, identifying, and
evaluating children with disabilities, even if enrolled in private
schools, so that they may benefit from the state’s provisions
under IDEA.
Comprehensive System of Personnel Development
Each state is required to have a system on file for the hiring of
adequate personnel for special education needs. Each state’s
comprehensive system must also include procedures for ongoing training,
evaluation and improvement of these teachers and related staff.
Get Help! Procedures
Click Here for easy
guidelines to pursuing your complaint, including what documents
we'll need to get started. If you feel you may have a case, complete
our free consultation form online for more information. There is
absolutely NO UP-FRONT COST for our lawyers' help, in qualifying
cases.
|
