IDEA

Question 1

IDEA

Answer 1

The IDEA is a federal law which created and governs special education. It entitles eligible children with disabilities to the specially designed instruction and individualized services and supports they need to benefit from a free public education

Question 2

FAPE

Answer 2

at public expense under public supervision
at no cost to the parents
meeting the standards of the state department of education
designed to meet the unique needs of each eligible student
provided according to a written Individualized Education Program (IEP)
applies to preschool through high school, ages 3 to 21
includes students who have been suspended or expelled

Question 3

Special education programs must:

Answer 3

be designed for the student to progress in the general education curriculum (there is only one curriculum for ALL students)
provide more than minimal benefit but no requirement to maximize potential (a serviceable Chevy vs. a brand new top-of-the-line Cadillac)
include related services and supports and extracurricular/nonacademic activities

Question 4

APPROPRIATE EVALUATION

Answer 4

A student must be evaluated prior to the provision of special education services to determine:

1. whether the student is an eligible “child with a disability” according to the IDEA definition, and if so,
2. to determine the educational needs of the student

Question 5

2. to determine the educational needs of the student

Answer 5

Parents must give informed consent for evaluation and for services
A student must be evaluated in all areas of suspected disability
The evaluation should include a variety of tools and strategies to gather functional, developmental, and academic information
Evaluation should never be based on a single measure or assessment
The evaluation instruments and methods used must be:
technically sound
not culturally discriminatory
in the language the child uses
administered by trained and knowledgeable personnel

Question 6

IEP

Answer 6

An IEP is a written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised at least annually by a team including educators, parents, the student whenever appropriate, and others who have knowledge or expertise needed for the development of the child’s special education program.

Question 7

The IEP must:

Answer 7

Contain objectively measurable goals
Be designed to offer meaningful progress in academic achievement in the general education curriculum and in functional performance

Question 8

LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT (LRE)

Answer 8

The IDEA requires 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 not disabled.”

Question 9

PARENT AND STUDENT PARTICIPATIONIN DECISION MAKING

Answer 9

Parents and students (whenever appropriate for the student) are meaningfully involved in:
The development, review, and revision of the IEP
Educational placement decisions
Reviewing evaluation data
Determining what data needs to be collected during evaluation
Transition planning and services starting by age 14

Question 10

PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS

Answer 10

Notices:
Parental rights notice (general information)
Written notice of meetings
Written notice of proposal or refusal to change educational programming or placement (specific to your child)