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In 1975, Congress first recognized the need to provide a federal law to help ensure that local schools would serve the
educational needs of students with disabilities. The law they originally passed was titled the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. That first special education law has undergone several updates over the past 30 years. In 1990 the law got a new name – The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. The most recent version of IDEA was passed by Congress in 2004. It can be referred to as either IDEA 2004 or IDEA.
IDEA gives states federal funds to help make special education services available for students with disabilities. It also provides very specific requirements to ensure a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. FAPE is the protected right of every eligible child, in all fifty states and U.S. Territories. Information provided by the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
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| The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, requires all states to report information on each district and service area's performance in meeting specific early intervention and special education targets outlined in the State Performance Plan (SPP). For 2009 public reporting, states are required to report regarding the 2007-2008 school year (June 30, 2007- July 1, 2008) performance.
This information provides local districts and communities an opportunity to see what's working well in their special education and early intervention programs and to identify what aspects of those programs are in need of improvement. This is somewhat similar to the Education YES! accountability report cards that districts receive every year. |
| Website: Click here to visit the website. |
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