What is IDEA?
What is IDEA?
The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act is the law put into place for the protection of students with disabilities. It was reauthorized in 2004, with a few changes (ask any special education teacher who has had to prove that he or she is “highly qualified’ what those changes were.)
How does IDEA stack up against NCLB? Currently, NCLB wins, because it is the more recently enacted law. This was tested recently, because two school districts argued that the NCLB mandates testing which is not in accordance with the IEPs of disabled students. In other words, instead of individualizing instruction and testing, NCLB seeks to lump disabled students into a large subgroup of their own, for the basis of evaluating the school district.
Who does IDEA cover? All children with disabilities are covered, from birth to age 2 (Part C) and ages 2 and up (Part B.) Part C is called Early Intervention. Part B is special education and related services.
Why must districts adhere to IDEA? Well, it IS the law. And, federal money comes with strings attached. In the case of IDEA, federal funds are given--or taken away--based on districts following a plan to provide all students with a FAPE. Everything stems from FAPE.
What exactly must be in an IEP? Click here...and settle in for a long read.